§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Postmaster General can he state the number of postal officials dismissed for irregularities last year; the number sent for trial and 903 convicted; what guarantee for honesty is exacted from postal officials in this country; and whether he has copies of the guarantees demanded from postal employés against dishonesty by Indian and Australian Governments?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONThe number of postal officials dismissed for irregularities last year was 227. The offences included drunkenness, insubordination, and persistent neglect of duty, as well as acts of fraud. The number sent for trial and convicted was 60. These numbers, out of a total employed of 117,989, amount to about 1 in 520. The guarantees for honesty enacted from Post Office servants are bonds of an approved guarantee society or of private sureties. The Post Office is not in possession of the guarantees used by Indian and Australian Governments. I should like to add that while the proportion of dishonest persons in the service of the Post Office is shown to be very small, I have seen with concern the number of cases which have occurred, and I have taken some steps, and I have others in contemplation, whereby the opportunities and temptations to dishonesty may be diminished.