§ MR. MULDOON (Wicklow, E.)To ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether Mr. Ellison, an inspector in the employment of the Department, has been discharged, and, if so, on what grounds; and whether it is proposed to again take this officer into the service of the Department when forestry work is commenced.
(Answered by Mr. T. W. Russell.) Mr. Ellison was employed by the Department for certain work in connection with forestry under an engagement, dated June, 1904, which was terminable at any time by three months' notice. As the work for which he was employed was practically completed, and as no further investigations or extensive operations in regard to forestry involving any large expenditure were contemplated, the Department on 31st March last informed Mr. Ellison that they felt obliged to notify him that his engagement would terminate on 1st July next. Pending the decision of the Government in the matter of providing funds to enable the Department to extend their forestry operations, the Department are not in a position to reply to the latter portion of the Question.