§ MR. SEAGER HUNT (Marylebone, W.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether there was any foundation for the statement that appeared in the Daily News and other papers of the 12th January, to the effect that the 50 superintending officers of the Savings Bank had requested their Controller to represent to him (the Postmaster General) the discontent prevailing through all sections of the Department; whether he had received a Memorial, on the 17th January, from 75 clerks of the old Second Class to the same effect, and another, on the 20th January, from 270 clerks of the Second Division, asking for an inquiry into the state of the Department; and what action he proposes to take thereupon?
§ *THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) Cambridge UniversityThe facts are as follow:—The Controller of the Savings Bank, in January last, summoned the high officers of his Department and expressed his fear that they had not exercised over their subordinates the influence which it was expected they would have exerted. They replied that they had most emphatically discountenanced the action of the junior officers of the Savings Bank, and assured the Controller of their thorough loyalty to the Department. They took advantage of the opportunity to urge their view that they ought all to have better salaries, and their regret that that view was not shared by the authorities. I have received the Memorials of the 17th and 20th January, referred to, and have answered them. I do not see any necessity for the inquiry asked for; but I hope very soon to be able to adopt measures greatly to reduce the extra duty, which appears to me to constitute a reasonable and legitimate grievance.