§ MR. HEALYasked the Postmaster General, Whether it is the fact that the appointment of postmaster in Maghera, county Derry, has been, or is about to be, granted to a leading member of the Local Liberal Association, or to any person entirely ignorant of Post Office duties, in preference to the young lady who managed the office during the illness of the late postmistress; whether the lady in question is quite competent to discharge the duties of the office satisfactorily, and that she had done so for a considerable period; whether she served an apprenticeship of five years in Draperstown to Post Office work; and, will he kindly state upon what principles the appointment will be granted?
§ MR. FAWCETTThe nomination to the vacant sub-post-office at Maghera rests with the Treasury, and the vacancy was reported to the Treasury yesterday. Three applications in favour of three different persons have reached mo—one from the lady to whom the hon. Member refers—and have all been forwarded to the Treasury.
§ MR. HEALYWhen the right hon. Gentleman says the appointment rests with the Treasury, does he mean that the Treasury makes the appointment on the recommendation of the local Member of Parliament, who, in the case of Derry, would be the Attorney General for Ireland?
§ MR. FAWCETTThe matter rests with the Treasury. I have nothing to do with it.
§ MR. COURTNEYI have nothing to do with these appointments.