§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)asked the Postmaster General, If he will be good enough to explain the following discrepancy: in the Post Office Estimates 200 clerks of the Third Class in the Savings Bank Department are charged for, whereas it appears from the Post Office Directory that there are only 107 clerks of that class?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)The explanation is that Clause 4 of the Order in Council of 1876 lays down that no vacancies in the third class of the branch referred to should be filled up except by the appointment of Lower Division Clerks; and a note appears in the Post Office Establishment Book to the effect that clerks borne on the Lower Division Class in excess of the authorized number count against vacancies in the third class. I shall be very glad to avail myself of the suggestion of the hon. Member to adjust the numbers of the respective classes, and will confer with the Treasury on the subject before the next Estimates are prepared.