§ Mr. HAZLETONasked why it is that in the office of the Treasury Solicitor there are five general clerks and two boy clerks appointed by the Treasury Solicitor; why these positions have not been filled by clerks assigned by the Civil Service Commissioners; what is the difference between the duties discharged by these clerks and the duties discharged by the four clerks in the same office who were assigned by the Civil Service Commissioners; and whether in future all such appointments will be in the hands of the Commissioners alone?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEIt was decided in 1888 that vacancies thereafter occurring in the staff of the solicitor acting for the Treasury in Ireland should be filled by personal clerks employed and controlled by him, and paid out of an allowance for clerk hire. This system, which is common to other solicitors' departments under Government, has since been followed, and it is not proposed to alter it. The four clerks referred to were assigned before the date of the change. The duties of the staff are distributed at the discretion of the solicitor according to the qualifications of the clerks and with a view to the efficient performance of the work.