§ Mr. SHEEHANasked whether Mr. Carroll, instructor in dairying, was originally appointed for a period of 12 months; whether he underwent any examination since his appointment; whether he has failed at such examination; and, if so, will he explain why, under these circumstances, he has been retained in the service of the Department, especially having regard to the fact that these appointments have caused dissatisfaction among the creamery managers and considerably hampered the working of the Department's schemes in relation to creameries?
§ Mr. CHERRYMr. Carroll was originally appointed in April, 1907, on probation with a number of others, as Instructor in Dairying. These instructors were submitted to an examination in the following March, as the result of which the Department continued their employment. It is not a fact that Mr. Carroll failed at this examination. With reference to the concluding portion of the question, I have 1251W to refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my right hon. Friend to previous questions from him on this subject.
§ Mr. SHEEHANasked whether, notwithstanding the fact that there was a considerable reduction in the number of creameries applying for registration and the services of the Department's instructors for the season 1908, he appointed as an additional instructor an Englishman named Mr. Wilkinson; what salary this official is at present receiving; whether, within a few months of his appointment, he was promoted to the position of lecturer in the Ballyhaise College; and why the Department, in view of the number of other instructors who had had several years' service, promoted Mr. Wilkinson to that position?
§ Mr. CHERRYThe Department appointed Mr. R. H. Wilkinson in May, 1908, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of an instructor in dairying. Mr. Wilkinson's salary is £200 per annum, the same as that paid the instructor whom he succeeded. His special knowledge and previous training as a teacher and analyst, combined with 20 years' commercial experience as technical manager and general manager of the two largest dairying companies in Ireland, rendered him exceptionally qualified for the position. At the present time he is engaged at the Department's Agricultural Station, Ballyhaise, as lecturer in dairy technology, dairy engineering, and business methods in connection with the course for students in creamery management. Mr. Wilkinson is not of Irish birth, but has continuously resided in Ireland for over 20 years.