§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether the chief clerk of the sorting office of the General Post Office, Dublin, with a salary of £500 a year, has been recently transferred to a vacancy in the accountant's office, the pay attaching to which is £300 to £400, thereby stopping the promotion of all the minor officials of this office, nearly all of whom are Catholics; and whether by this transfer and the filling up of his place in the sorting office, there will be any consequent increase in the Estimates?
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONThe transfer in question has been made, and, of course, it prevents the promotion in the office to which it was made. I do not know anything about the religion or the politics of any members of the Service unless they intrude them; and the appointment in question had no reference to such considerations. There will be no increase in the Estimates caused by the appointment.