§ 25. Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state who has been appointed Press Censor in Ireland in succession to Lord Decies, and by whom and on whose recommendation?
§ Mr. SAMUELSThe Lord Lieutenant has been pleased to appoint Major Bryan Ricco Cooper, D.L., to be Press Censor in Ireland in the room of Lieutenant-Colonel the Right Hon. Lord Decies, D.S.O., resigned. His Excellency has satisfied himself that Major Cooper possesses the necessary qualifications for the post.
§ Mr. DEVLINWill the right hon. Gentleman, now that the Lord Lieutenant has satisfied himself, satisfy the House of Commons as to the qualifications of this gentleman?
§ Mr. DEVLINHas Major Cooper any qualification except that he was a defeated Unionist candidate in Ireland?
§ Mr. SAMUELSMajor Cooper is a very gallant gentleman. He served gallantly in the 5th Connaught Rangers. He is author of a book on the 10th Irish Division. He was subsequently Censor at Salonika, and was for nearly two years in the Press Section of the War Office.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWas he ever in Zululand?
§ Mr. DEVLINCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us what additional experience he had beyond his censoring at Salonika, and are his services at Salonika the highest and most pre-eminent qualification for a good administrative position in Ireland?
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWhy is a new Censor being appointed in Ireland while the English Censor is being abolished on the same day?
§ Mr. MacVEAGHHe could not answer if he had notice.