§ Sir MAURICE DOCKRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will, in view of the pledges given to the men who served in the great War, direct that the auditors and other officers of the Local Government Board for Ireland shall refuse to ratify the appointment by any local authority of a man who did not so serve when there was available for employment an equally suitable ex-Service man?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNeither the auditors nor any of the other officers of the Local Government Board ratify the appointment of officials of a local authority. This duty is imposed on the Local Government Board by Statute, and they have no power to delegate it to any of their officers. While the Board would be glad to see preference given to ex-Service men by local authorities in the matter of appointments, they have no power to interfere with their discretion in the selection of the person they appoint, provided they are qualified for the position they are chosen to fill, under the Regulations.