§ 101. Lieut. - Colonel ARCHER-SHEEasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the Cornwall Insurance Committee in appointing to an assistant-clerkship a member of their staff employed by them only during the War though eligible for 1176 military service under the second Military Service Act, thereby passing over a senior member of the permanent staff who had returned from almost five years' service with His Majesty's Forces; whether the Commissioners are prepared to intervene to prevent an obvious injustice being done to a man by reason of his service to the country; and what general instructions have been issued by the Commissioners in regard to the employment of ex-Service men?
§ Major ASTORMy attention had already been drawn to this case. The Cornwall Insurance Committee in a matter in which they had complete discretion, and over which the Commissioners had no control, have promoted to the post of assistant clerk to the committee a man of fifty years of age who, they considered, had better qualifications for the post than the shorthand clerk and typist on their staff, who had resumed duty in his former position after military service at an increased salary. The whole of the facts, including the shorthand clerk's military service, were fully considered by the committee. It is not competent to the Commissioners to instruct committees as to the employment of ex-Service men, and they were satisfied that these bodies were, and are, fully alive to the special claims of these men.
Colonel BURNCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman assure us that, where possible, preference will be given to ex-Service men?
§ Major ASTORThe authorities have been asked to do this. In this particular case the central Department could not compel them to do it.