§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)asked the Postmaster General, Whether a clerk in the Telegraph Department was recently discharged after five years' exemplary service, for the sole reason that he had not attained the height of five feet four inches?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)In reply to the lion. Member I have to state that it is not the case that a clerk in the Telegraph Department has been dismissed after five years' service for the reason that he had not attained the height of 5 feet 4 inches. The facts are as follows:—The lad referred to was a telegraph boy messenger, and was not a member of the established staff. The regulations prescribe that these lads should cease to be boy messengers at the age of 19, when their service terminates. They are, however, eligible for nomination for the established situation of sorter or postman, for which, if they can pass the required standard of height—5 feet 4 inches—they have to obtain a Civil Service certificate. As the lad referred to was under the standard of height, he was ineligible for nomination. He might, if he had so elected, have become a candidate under the age of 18 for the situation of telegraphist, for which situation no standard of height is required.