§ MR. TUITE (Westmeath, N.)asked the Postmaster General, Whether an officer of the Secretary's Office, General Post Office, Dublin, named Thompson, has recently been selected for employment as acting surveyor's clerk in Ireland; what is the length of his service in the Post Office; how many officers of the same rank as Thompson are there in the General Post Office, Dublin, the length of whose service exceeds his; whether the position of surveyor's clerk requires an extensive knowledge of postal and telegraph duties; how many branches of the Post Office has Thompson served in; and, on what principle of selection has such an inexperienced officer as Thompson been chosen before officers whose service in the Post Office so much exceeds his?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)Sir, in reply to the hon. Member's six inquiries, my answers are as follows:—1, yes; 2, five years and 10 months in the Public Service, eight months in the Post Office; 3, seven; 4, yes; 5, one; 6, because of all the eligible candidates Thompson was the most suitable for the purpose.
§ MR. RAIKESI am informed that he had been five years and 10 months in the Public Service and eight months in the Post Office.