Mr. NUGENTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that Edward Murphy, of 1, Green Street, Dublin, has passed the necessary qualifying examination at Dublin Castle in 1872; that he was subsequently for nineteen years in the service of the Ordnance Survey Department; whether he will ascertain the competency of the officer that witnessed against Murphy after his 22½ years' service; if he will explain the reason for retaining an inefficient man for so many years; and if he will ascertain the circumstances under which the report was made against Mr. Murphy?
§ Mr. PROTHEROIn reply I will refer my hon. Friend to the answer given in this House on the 11th August, 1898, by the President of the Board of Agriculture at that time. I fully agree with the terms of that answer and see no reason for reopening the case. With regard to the hon. Member's point as to efficiency, I may1304W perhaps say that in the last years of service Murphy became inefficient, and on two occasions prior to his discharge his pay was reduced owing to bad work. I am convinced that there is no ground for the allegation that he was dealt with unjustly.