HC Deb 12 May 1893 vol 12 cc771-3
MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether the postmistress at Clogher (Portadown) has been instructed that the senior assistant is no longer to be allowed to take part in the work of the office; whether he is aware that on several occasions the senior assistant, at the instance of people using the office, has complained of carelessness and irregularity at the superior offices at Enniskillen and Portadown; what are the specific charges made against the senior assistant; have any complaints been made against her by persons who use the office largely; and if he will suspend the instruction to discontinue her services until a further inquiry has been held into the complaints made by her at the instance of the public as to the incompetence and carelessness at other superior offices?

MR. A. MORLEY

The postmistress has been instructed no longer to permit her daughter, who acted as her assistant, to take any part in the work of the office, and has been called on to provide a competent person in her place. This decision has been arrived at because the daughter who, owing to her mother's age and infirmity, has assumed almost exclusive charge of the office, not only neglected the duties, but habitually acted in an insubordinate and unbecoming manner, and made use of offensive language on the telegraph wires. The case has been very carefully considered, and there appears to be no reason to alter the decision.

MR. MACARTNEY

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman had seen any of the communications which had passed from the Chief Office at Portadown in answer to complaints made by persons who largely used that office of gross irregularity and the impertinent answers made by the clerks at the Portadown Office; and whether he would suspend for the present the instruction to the postmistress at Clogher until he had had an opportunity of considering the complaints which had been made of incivility on the part of the clerks at Portadown and Enniskillen?

An hon. MEMBER asked if the Postmaster General would ascertain whether the messages in question were sent by the daughter of the postmistress at Clogher?

MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)

said, that, as Clogher was in his constituency, he desired to ask if the right hon. Gentleman would suspend his decision in regard to the senior assistant at the Clogher Post Office until he had fully inquired into the matter?

MR. A. MORLEY

said, he was unable to suspend action, as the decision had been given.

MR. MACARTNEY

asked whether he was to understand that the right hon. Gentleman had not seen any of the communications in which the office at Portadown had instructed the postmistress at Clogher to suspend the senior assistant, who for 12 years had carried on the work to the entire satisfaction of everyone using the office. Was he prepared to suspend all instructions until he had made further inquiries?

MR. A. MORLEY

said, that instructions had been sent to the postmistress to suspend the senior assistant, who was her daughter. The order had been put into effect. He would ascertain whether there was any necessity for further inquiry.

*MR. T. W. RUSSELL

pointed out that this suspension of the senior assistant amounted to the dismissal of the postmistress, for she could not afford to keep an assistant. [ Cries of "Order!"]

MR. MACARTNEY

asked if the right hon. Gentleman would call for a copy of the correspondence between the Clogher and Portadown Offices, which would show that the whole of this difficulty had arisen through attention being drawn to irregularities at Portadown?

*MR. DANE (Fermanagh, N.)

asked if there was any truth in the charges as to irregularities at the Enniskillen Post Office?

MR. A. MORLEY

said, he was not aware of any irregularities? If the hon. Gentleman would bring any specific case under his notice he would inquire into it.

MR. MACARTNEY

asked if the right hon. Gentleman would inquire whether complaint had not been made to the office at Portadown that clerks at the Enniskillen Office had guessed at telegrams, with the result that persons sending goods by train had been put to unnecessary expense?

MR. A. MORLEY

said, that as he had stated, if hon. Members would supply him with information as to irregularities, he would have them inquired into.