§ MR. PICKERSGILLI beg to ask the Postmaster General whether, having regard to the good character of the dismissed postmen and their urgent distress, he will give them the preference for temporary employment during the Christmas "pressure" of work? I have also to ask whether postalemployés will render themselves liable to dismissal or other official punishment by collecting subscriptions, either from the public or from their brother officers, for the dismissed postmen, who, with their wives and families, are on the verge of starvation?
§ MR. RAIKESFor the reasons given yesterday in reply to the hon. Member for the Tower Hamlets, I regret that no employment in the London Postal Service can be given to the dismissed postmen. 752 Post Office servants can, of course, collect what money they please among themselves; but, except in the case of Christmas boxes, they are forbidden to collect from the public for any object. To this prohibition I regret that no exception can be made.