§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether the vacancies created by the revision of the Cork telegraph staff, whereby the staff was augmented, received Treasury Authority on the 20th July, 1891, have been filled with one exception, to which attention has been repeatedly called; whether he will order that the vacancy, as intended, will be filled without delay, and direct that the promotion of the officer selected shall be ante-dated to the 20th July, 1891; and whether it is proposed to transfer an officer from another post office to fill the vacancy referred to, while there are upwards of a dozen officers of long service in Cork qualified for the position?
§ MR. A. MORLEYWith one exception, the appointments created by the Treasury Authority of the 20th of July, 1891, have been filled. For the appointment that remains unfilled the District Surveyor was unable to submit the name of an officer on the Cork staff whom he could recommend as thoroughly qualified. A name has now been submitted and the remaining vacancy will be filled; but the promotion cannot of course take effect from a date prior to the period which the certificate of qualification covers. How far back this certificate extends is a question into which I am now inquiring.
§ MR. W. REDMONDDO I understand it is impossible to fill up this vacancy with an officer already in the Cork office?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI understand that a recommendation has now been made. Till now the Surveyor has not felt able to recommend anyone, because he held there was no fitting person in the office.
§ MR. W. REDMONDIs it a Cork official now recommended?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI think it is; I will find out.