§ MR. BIGGARasked the Postmaster General, Whether his attention has been officially directed to the statement of Mr. Hugh Rainey, junior, a member of the Ballymena Town Commissioners, made at a meeting of that body held on the 31st ultimo, a report of which appears in the Belfast Morning News of the 1st instant, to the effect that the clerk to that body, a Mr. Mathews, who is also Postmaster of Ballymena, holds nineteen distinct appointments, viz. High Constable, Postmaster, Town Clerk, Clerk to the Burial Board, Executive Sanitary Authority Officer of Ballymena, Clerk of Union, District Registrar of Marriages, Secretary to the Ballymena and Harryville Gaslight Company, Secretary to the International Schools, Clerk to the Town Court, Receiver for Copy of Valuations, Registrar to Burial Board, Reviser of Voters' List, Reviser of Jurors' List, Presiding Officer at Town Commissioners' Elections, Insurance Agent, Returning Officer at Elections of Poor Law Guardians, Clerk to Lunatic Board, and Executive Officer for Rural Sanitary Authority; whether it is consistent with the duties of a provincial postmaster, and in keeping with the rules of the Post Office Service, that Mr. Mathews should hold other appointments in addition to that of postmaster; how many hours per day are provincial postmasters supposed to spend in their offices, and how many has Mr. Mathews been in the habit of spending in his; whether or not he has utilised the Post Office as a convenience in respect of 1848 his other appointments; and, whether these have been conferred upon him in respect of political services?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREThe Postmaster at Ballymena, as in the case of all holders of small post offices, is not an established officer of the Department, and is not, therefore, bound to give his whole time to Post Office work. No complaint has reached me as to the manner in which Mr. Mathews performs his duties; and I do not consider it necessary, therefore, to inquire as to his other appointments.