HC Deb 03 June 1890 vol 344 cc1851-2
MR. PICKERSGILL

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether an official reporter was present at the annual conference of the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association held last week; and, if so, was he present by his order, and in spite of the protest of the members of the Association?

*THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) Cambridge University

Yes, Sir.

MR. PICKERSGILL

I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether servants of the Post Office have been officially called upon to explain why they attended meetings of the Postman's Union; and, if so, has this action been sanctioned by the Postmaster General?

*MR. RAIKES

What the Postmen have been called upon to explain is how they came to attend the meeting held on Clerkenwell Green, on the 16th ultimo, in spite of the warning which I had given them only a day or two before-These explanations were called for by my direction.

MR. PICKERSGILL

Am I to under-stand that the Postmaster General claims the right to forbid the Post Office servants from attending meetings, whether out of uniform or not?

*MR. RAIKES

In my opinion, servants of the Department in their relations to the Department are properly subject to official regulations.

*MR. C. GRAHAM

Can the Post Office servants attend such meetings out of uniform?

MR. CREMER

Does the same rule apply to all servants of the Crown?

*MR. RAIKES

I am not responsible for any Department except my own. With respect to the question of uniform, the hon. Member is perhaps aware that it is competent for the servants of the Post Office to hold meetings, provided such meetings are hold in accordance with the conditions laid down by the Department.

MR. W1NTERBOTHAM (Gloucester, Cirencester)

May not Post Office servants attend political meetings out of uniform; and, if not, where does the rule begin, and where does it end? Does it begin with the Postmaster General, and how far down does it extend?

*MR. RAIKES

I have already stated that it is competent for the servants of the Post Office to attend public meetings in accordance with the regulations. Those regulations apply, not to political meetings, but to meetings at which official questions are discussed. There are no regulations requiring them to attend such meetings in uniform or otherwise.