§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is proposed to promote Mr. S. Hockaday, hired writer. Naval Ordnance Department, Admiralty, to the position of clerk third grade; whether he is aware that this man did not compete at the recent examination held for this position; and whether, if his qualifications are based on the marks obtained at a former examination, he will state what steps he proposes to take to ensure equal consideration to the twenty-three hired writers in the Department who recently qualified with a higher percentage of marks?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe reply to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative, and the reply to the third in the negative. Mr. Hockaday is being promoted without further examination because he had been definitely noted for promotion under the old scheme in a vacancy which existed before the new scheme, involving promotion by examination, was introduced.