§ Mr. RIDSDALEasked the Postmaster-General whether, in the examination for second-class engineers in the Post Office, candidates are, after nomination by the university authorities, scrutinised for eligibility before being permitted to compete in the examination; what purpose the nomination serves if there is this subsequent personal scrutiny; and whether he will consider the desirability of allowing all candidates duly nominated by university authorities to compete?
§ Mr. BUXTONCandidates nominated by university authorities are scrutinised for eligibility by a Board of selection before admission to the competition for engineering appointments in the Post Office. The object of the scrutiny is to bring to bear on the selection of candidates a more exact knowledge of the nature of the work, and the qualifications necessary for performing it successfully, than can be possessed outside the Post Office. It is within the knowledge of all candidates that such a scrutiny will take place.