§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONI beg to ask the Postmaster General if he will explain why the animal leave of absence of Mr. Lascelles, a sorting clerk at Liverpool, has been suspended, although the official medical officer has certified that the health of this clerk will probably suffer in consequence, and that 15 months have elapsed since he was previously on leave of absence; whether suspension of leave is a punishment opposed to the Rules of the Department; and whether he will exercise his discretion to remove the suspension referred to?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI am informed that the medical officer at Liverpool has made no such Report as that stated in the question. Mr. Lascelles took a prominent part some months back in 767 transactions which involved serious breach of discipline; and after very careful consideration of all the facts, I decided that, in view of his expressions of regret as an alternative to a more serious punishment, his leave of absence should not be granted without special authority. My answer to the second and third paragraphs are in the negative.