§ MR. HAZLETONTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland why the position of office assistant in the engineering branch of the Office of Public Works, Ireland, which carries a salary of £300 a year, is not an appointment upon the establishment; who has the power of appointment to the position; who occupies it; and what is the length of service and qualifying examination of the present holder.
(Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) There is no recognised post of clerical assistant. The holder is paid out of an allowance made to the Board for temporary clerical assistance in the engineers' branch. The need for creating a permanent post on the establishment was not apparent when the allowance was made. The power of appointing persons to be paid out of the allowance rests with the Board of Works. I am informed that the gentleman at present employed is Mr. Henry A. Jones, who has been in the Board's service for fourteen years, and was found before appointment to possess the requisite experience and qualifications. The Board has, I understand, under consideration a proposal for the appointment of a permanent clerical assistant to the engineer.