§ SIR GEORGE BOWYERsaid, he wished to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, When the Report of the Committee on the Post Office will be laid upon the table?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, the Report of the Committee on the Post Office related to a claim that was made by certain members of the metropolitan establishment for the improvement of their position. Their claim was first of all examined by various officers of the Post Office; and, secondly, by officers of the Post Office in conjunction with some officers of the Treasury; the two Departments, as the House was aware, being very intimately associated together, and the Treasury, in fact, being strictly responsible for all the proceedings of the Post Office. There was some difference of opinion prevailing among those officers, and under those circumstances it became the duty of the Government themselves to assume the responsibility; and after communications had passed between his noble Friend the Postmaster-General and the Treasury, certain arrangements were made which were now in force. With respect to that variety of view which prevailed amongst persons of intelligence and ability in Departments on the details of some practical questions, it was impossible that gentlemen of intelligence should not occasionally vary in the advice that they conscientiously tendered; but these were questions which he thought, in the first instance, were for the consideration of the Government, and they were for the consideration of Parliament, if Parliament should think fit to impugn the conduct of the Government. But, undoubtedly, these were not Papers of a nature which, in his judgment, it would be convenient or agreeable to precedent to lay before Parliament. Having taken a certain course, the Government intended to abide by that course, and it was not a matter on which they intended to submit Papers to Parliament.