MR. HENRY CAMPBELLasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Whether it is the fact that David Evans, the Postmaster of Bala, died on 1st January of the present year; whether, in consequence of ill-health, Mr. Evans was unable to attend to the duties of the office for a considerable time prior to his death; whether, during this period, Mrs. Evans efficiently performed the duties appertaining to the office; whether, after the death of her husband, she applied for the position; whether an influentially-signed Memorial on her behalf was forwarded to the Postmaster General, praying that she might be appointed Postmistress; whether, notwithstanding her efficiency and the local feeling expressed through the Memorial 1376 in her behalf, the Postmaster General refused to recognise her claims, and appointed a local Conservative instead; whether the man appointed signed the Memorial in question; whether the removal of the office from the house of Mr. Evans has yet taken place; and, whether he will reconsider the matter with a view to the appointment of this lady?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. ARNOLD MORLEY),in reply, said, he found that Mr. Evans died on the 1st of January; and, for some time previous to his death, the work was fairly well done by Mrs. Evans. A Memorial on her behalf was received. The vacancy was reported to the Treasury on the 13th of January, and on the 1st of February the office was filled up in the usual way by his Predecessor, who appointed John Williams. Williams might have signed the Memorial on behalf of Mrs. Evans, as the name of John Williams appeared frequently amongst the signatures. The office had not yet been removed from Mrs. Evans' house; but the appointment had been completed, so far as the Treasury was concerned, and he had no power to reopen the matter unless a vacancy was again reported.