§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)asked the Postmaster General, Whether the postal and telegraphic establishments at Waterford are still ranked in the second class, notwithstanding that the Returns taken last year show the work transacted to be sufficient to warrant the first class being applied; whether, when the late Mr. Fawcett's scheme for the revision of offices was issued in 1881, Mr. Baines, of the General Post Office, who superintended its application, included Waterford among the offices to be promoted, possessing as it did the necessary qualification in high class instruments and direct telegraphic communication with London; whether, in consequence of the strenuous opposition of Mr. Guinness, Surveyor of the Southern (Ireland) District, Waterford was struck out, but on consideration that it would be restored when Limerick obtained the necessary qualifications, and if this promise is still unfulfilled whether the recent revision of the estab- 1472 lishments confers only two clerkships in a staff of 34, while English offices with a smaller staff have three times the number of superior appointments; and, if it is the intention of the Department to improve the prospects of the general body of the staff, and remove the discontent which now prevails?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)All the officers consulted in 1881 wore of opinion that the Waterford office should be ranked in List B. In November last I revised the establishment, increasing the number of clerks by two to the present number of four, which was all that the work of the office required. It is not the fact that English offices with a smaller staff have three times the number of superior appointments. The office is still properly ranked in List B; and I should not, I think, be warranted now in reconsidering my decision of November last.