§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he would state what special 1657 qualifications were required to fill the office of instructor in dairying under his Department; had candidates to submit themselves to any qualifying examination, and, if so, would he state who set the papers at these examinations and what subjects they embraced; and whether those interested in these appointments, such as the members of the Creamery Managers' Organisation, had ever been consulted beforehand or afforded an opportunity of orally explaining their views?
§ Mr. CHERRY (for Mr. T. W. Russell)The special qualifications required for the position of instructor in dairying, in connection with the scheme for improvement in the management of creameries, include a knowledge of the principles on which the practice of dairying is based, as well as a technical knowledge of dairying machinery and of the construction, equipment, and management of a creamery. Besides this, the candidate must give indication of ability to impart instruction to others, and of those personal qualifications which command respect. Candidates have to submit to an oral examination by the chief officers of the Department. The Department have not hitherto consulted any organisation of creamery managers with regard to appointments of this nature, nor do they propose to do so in future. The Department are well aware of the views of creamery managers on this question.