§ MR. D. SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India if he will recommend the Government of India to make permanent promotions in the Telegraph Department as vacancies occur, and not only on 1st April and 1st October?
*SIR J. GORSTThe dates for making promotions in the Telegraph Department are fixed by the Government of India, and the Secretary of State is not disposed to interfere in the matter.
§ MR. D. SULLIVANasked how many officers of the Telegraph Department had more than 30 years' service; and if, in the interests of the public service, whether as regards the efficiency of the department or economy in the matter of pensions, the hon. Gentleman would consider the advisability of retiring those officers, many of whom had already been superseded by officers many years their juniors, on special pensions, rather than allow men in the 704 prime of life, and who were specially trained for the Department under the reorganization scheme of 1886, to leave the Service in disgust?
*SIR J. GORSTIn answer to the hon. Member's first inquiry I have to state that the number of such officers is ten. In answer to the second inquiry I have to state that the Secretary of State sees no necessity for altering the rules as to the retirement of officers in the Telegraph Department.