§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)asked the Postmaster General, Whether the Post Office Employés Mutual Guarantee Association (Limited) is conducted upon compulsory or voluntary principles; if Mr. Freeling Lawrence, a chief clerk in the Secretary's Department, is correctly reported to have said at the annual meeting, in praise of the Local Postmasters, that they were putting not only their clerks and telegraphists, but also their postmen, under bond; if so, whether this is a fact, and how far such Postmasters are justified in requiring safeguards from officers of the Established Staff not required at the outset of their official career; and, whether a clerk taking temporary charge of an office in the Metropolitan District has to pay the full amount required from the permanent holder of the post, or whether the latter's payment covers the responsibility of his substitute; and, if not, what is the reason?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)The Association to which the hon. Member refers, and which has been formed by the staff solely for their own advantage, is conducted on voluntary principles. I understand that the words attributed to the Chairman of the Association are substantially correct. In some cases it may be necessary to take security from postmen, and such has been the practice 1221 to a limited extent for some years. Each case must, however, be decided on its merits. I have no wish or intention to extend the practice unnecessarily; and it is open to any postman who is asked to give security to appeal, through his superior officer, to me, when I should investigate the case. No such appeal has been made to me. I have recently sanctioned an arrangement which will meet the point raised in the last paragraph of the hon. Member's Question, without hardship to clerks taking temporary charge of offices, and which will fully protect the Revenue.