§ MR. THEOBALD (Essex, Romford)I beg to ask the Postmaster General if he will state the number and rank of the officers in the Controller's Office at the Central Telegraph Office; if it is his intention to continue to till vacancies in that office by officers already within the office, excluding clerks on the staff outside the office, who may be many years senior and as efficient as those now within the Controller's Office; and whether he will state the nature of the steps, if any, taken to ascertain whether clerks possess the special qualifications alleged to be necessary to fulfil the duties in that office?
§ MR. A. MORLEYAs I informed the hon. Member in answer to a question on May 11, the Controller's Office has no separate classification, but the Controller selects from the general body of officers the best men he can find. There are at the present time 10 such officers—four ranking as Superintendents, two as Assistant Superintendents, one Senior Telegraphist, and three Telegraphists of the First Class. In answer to the second and third paragraphs, in the event of vacancies occurring, they will be tilled in the future, as in the past, by the selection of men who are considered best fitted to perform the duties which require special qualifications and experience.