§ Mr. C. DUNCANasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider the advisability of giving civil guards in the convict prison service opportunities of rising to the rank of warder as vacancies occur in that rank, instead of appointing candidates from outside the service over the heads of the civil guards?
§ Mr. McKENNAHigher qualifications are required for the rank of warder (implying personal control of convicts, knowledge of discipline, trade, etc.) than for that of civil guard, but when an officer who has been appointed as civil guard shows to the satisfaction of the authorities that he possesses the necessary qualifications for the higher rank, every opportunity exists under the present system for his passing into it, and, in fact, a large proportion of warders in convict prisons at the present time entered the service as civil guards. The system works well, and no change is proposed.