§ Mr. WIGNALLasked the Chief Secretary whether Warder W. Egan, Mary-borough Prison, has been the responsible cook and baker for about two years, including cooking and baking for hospital patients, without a single complaint against his work, yet about 12 warders, junior to him, have been promoted to the rank of principal warder over his head in spite of his technical knowledge and 24 years of loyal service to the Crown; whether it is a common practice for the General Prisons Board to ignore applications relating to staff grievances; and whether he will make inquiries into the numerous complaints against the administration of the General Prisons Board?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have nothing to add to the reply given by me to the hon. Member on the 31st October last. It is a fact that officers junior to Warder Egan have been promoted to positions for which he is not regarded as suitable. There is no foundation for the suggestion that the General Prisons Board ignore applications from the prisons staff. On the contrary, they are always prepared to investigate any alleged grievances which are brought to notice. I am satisfied that the administration of the Board is carried out with fairness to all concerned.