§ MR. FETHERSTONHAUGH, (Fermanagh, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in withdrawing the 477 charter under which the Queen's Colleges were constituted and introducing a new charter, it is intended to give those professors of the Queen's Colleges who do not care to take service on the new terms an opportunity of retiring on fair terms as to pension, as was done in the case of the Marischal College, Aberdeen, and in the case of some officers of the late Queen's University in Ireland.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Existing professors will be offered equivalent posts in the reconstituted colleges, but it is not proposed to give them compensation if they should not choose to accept such equivalent posts. I think the hon. and learned Member will find that no option was given in the cases to which he refers. The enactments governing those cases appear to be The Universities (Scotland) Act, 1858, Section 18 (2), and The University Education (Ireland) Act, 1879, Section 14.