§ MR. CONYBEAREI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, according to statements published in the Daily News, the police have refused, to many of 517 the recently-dismissed Post Office employés, the licences necessary to enable them to take other employment, such as cab drivers and omnibus conductors; upon what ground and by whose authority have these measures been adopted; and whether he will issue instructions that the police shall not interfere with their attempts to gain fresh employment?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am informed by the Commissioner of Police that it is not the case that licences as cabdrivers and omnibus conductors have been refused by the police to ex-Post Office employés by reason of their having left that Department, and there is no reason for me to give any instructions on the subject.
§ MR. CONYBEAREIt was by reason of their having been dismissed that they were refused.
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have given the hon. Member the information I received.
§ MR. CONYBEAREI beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that some of the recently dismissed postmen who belonged to the Volunteers have been expelled from that Service, and that in other cases licences to take other employment, such as cab drivers and omnibus conductors, have been refused by the police; upon what grounds have the men been thus treated; and whether, in order to relieve the urgent necessities of a large number of the men who are still out of employment, and who, owing to the uncertainty as to their possible reinstatement, cannot find fresh employment, he will do his utmost to determine with all possible speed what is to be their fate?
§ SIR H. MAXWELL (for the POST-MASTER GENERAL)The first part of the hon. Member's question would perhaps have been more properly addressed to the Secretary of State for War, but I understand that under the terms of their enlistment those of the recently dismissed postmen who were in the 1st Class Army Reserve have been removed from the Reserve. Upon the case of the others, who were Volunteers, no decision has yet been arrived at by their Commanding Officer. I understand that upon the case of these unfortunate men a decision has been arrived at by the Postmaster General, and will be announced immediately.