MR. J. ROBERTS (Mint, &c.)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether shopkeepers and others who keep a post office as part only of their occupation are on that account disqualified from becoming candidates for seats on the County Council?
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES)(who replied) (Cambridge University)said: At the request of my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board I reply to the hon. Member's Question. As the duties of County Councillor appear to me incompatible with those which a Postmaster has to perform, I have felt it right to issue a notice to the effect that a Postmaster, before becoming a candidate for the County Councils, must resign his situation under the Post Office. This Rule will apply to Postmasters and Sub-Postmasters and receivers who keep shops, or who give only a part of their time to the Post Office, as well as to others. I may add that I have, where special application has been made to me, consented to the Sub-Postmasters in rural villages, where there is no other public functionary, receiving the nomination papers for the election of County Councillors; and I mention this in order to show how important it is to maintain the absolute neutrality of the Post Office in any election of public importance.