§ MR. A. M. SULLIVANasked the Postmaster General, If he is aware that the permanent officials of the Post Office have decided that (in Ireland), telegraphists who joined the Telegraph Service after the transfer to the State are not eligible for any vacancy occurring in the Accountant's Department (Ireland), and that telegraphists who were taken over by the State at the transfer are eligible; and, if bearing in mind his recent statement as to telegraphists 252 in general, he can state what is the nature of the distinction which appears to exist?
MR. O'CONNOR POWERasked the Postmaster General, When the open competition for female clerkships in the Post Office Savings Bank will take place?
§ MR. FAWCETTTelegraphists who have been appointed subsequent to the transfer are not eligible for appointment to vacancies in the Accountant's Department (Ireland), because the standard of examination for that office is higher than that prescribed for telegraphists. The standard of examination had not been prescribed at the time of the transfer; and it was held that the transferred telegraphists were eligible for appointment to any office to which clerks at that time in the Service could be appointed under the Regulations then in force. The Department of the Accountant of the Post Office in Ireland was one of those offices. In reply to the Question of the hon. Member for Mayo, I may state that the scheme for the open competitive examinations for female clerkships in the Savings Bank Department of the Post Office will come into operation almost immediately. The preliminary examination will be held on the 12th of August, by which the candidates will be sifted. The second and final examination will be held on the 2nd of September. The preliminary examinations will be conducted in 15 of the largest towns in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the final examinations in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin.