§ Mr. CLANCYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury under what circumstances it is considered necessary to recruit the lower section of the technical staff of the General Valuation Office, Dublin, by a semi-professional examination mainly suitable for English candidates, whereas the upper section of the technical staff has been successfully recruited from the clerical staff of the Department?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSE:The valuers and surveyors (first section) in the Valuation Office are now entirely recruited from the valuers and surveyors (second section). The second section is recruited by a technical examination equal to that required for Fellowships of the Surveyors' Institute, and has been so recruited, with a single exception, since 1889. A technical examination is necessary in order to secure officers with the requisite technical qualifications for field work. I understand that the majority of the men appointed since 1889 are Irish.