§ Mr. R. McLARENasked the Home Secretary whether lie intends to revise the salary of the newly appointed chief inspector of mines; and, if so, what will be the amount of salary?
§ Mr. SHORTTI am in communication with the Treasury in this matter, and am unable at present to make any statement.
§ Mr. R. McLARENasked the Home Secretary if, in the nomination of candidates for the inspectorate in the Mining Department, he will arrange that Scottish students will have their fair share, so as to do away with the present anomaly of 442W Scotsmen having only about one-twelfth of the appointments instead of one-sixth, which is the just proportion fur Scotland?
§ Mr. SHORTTIn nominating candidates to compete for mines inspectorships, I act on the recommendations of the Board for tinning exammations, to whom all applications are referred, and who judge each case solely on its merits. I am not prepared to approve any discrimination on behalf of Scotsmen, who are as a rule well able to obtain their fair share of appointments without any special provision being made in their favour.
§ Mr. R. McLARENasked the Home Secretary if lie intends to appoint a deputy-chief inspector of mines in place of the late deputy-inspector of mines, who has been promoted; and if, in view of the fact that for over two years the work was satisfactorily done by one official,- he will, in the interests of economy, allow the appointment to lapse?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe answer to the first question is in the affirmative, and to the second in the negative. The new chief inspector, Mr. Walker, was able to carry on successfully as acting-chief inspector during the last three years without a deputy; but only by working long overtime and at a sacrifice of health which he could not now be asked to continue; nor would it be possible for a single officer, however capable, to deal unaided with the accumulation of questions which were left in abeyance during the war but which Cannot now be further suspended.