§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is a fact that a letter was addressed by one of the associations to the Civil Service Commissioners on the second day of the special examination for temporary clerks asking that some allowance should be made to the candidates taking the examination at the Crystal Palace, in view of the absence of heating and the multiplicity of noises; whether he is aware that a petition has been signed by 400 candidates protesting against the conditions that prevailed; and whether he can now give an assurance, in view of the great importance of the examination, that some extra consideration will be shown to these candidates as to other candidates at other centres?
§ Mr. BALDWINA letter was addressed from the Federation of Temporary Staff Associations to the Civil Service Commissioners on 2nd November respecting the conditions of the examination held at the Crystal Palace on the 26th, 27th and 28th October, and the Commissioners saw a deputation of candidates and representatives of associations on the 4th November about the matters mentioned in the letter. They have, however, no knowledge of the petition referred to. Absolute equality of conditions is unattainable when an examination is held at several centres, but in valuing the work of candidates at the examination in question the Commissioners would have regard to the conditions that prevailed at the various examination halls.