§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON (Shropshire, Oswestry)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that Mr. Isaac, the postmaster of Brynmawr, Breconshire, is in the habit of taking an active part in political meetings and organisations; that his son, who is also in the employment of the Post Office as assistant clerk to his father, 161 is the secretary to the local political association called "The Brynmawr Liberal Hundred," and also takes an active part in political meetings, and has access to and the principal charge of the Telegraph Department; whether he is aware that Mr. Isaac, senior, as assistant overseer, prepares the Parliamentary Voters' Lists, and that his son is advertised as the person to whom Radicals should send in their claims to be placed on the Register; whether he is aware that it has been found necessary to despatch telegrams on political matters from the Beaufort Post Office, two and a-half miles distant, in order to avoid inspection from the postmaster at Brynmawr; and whether it is in accordance with the Post Office Regulations for its officials to take an active part in local politics?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. A. MORLEY,) Nottingham, E.No, Sir; I am not aware that Mr. Isaac, Postmaster of Brynmawr, is in the habit of taking an active part in political meetings and organisations. On the contrary, I am informed on excellent authority that he has studiously abstained from anything of the kind. Mr. Isaac's son, who as acted as assistant to his father for the last 12 months, appears to have taken an active part in local political questions, and I have given directions that, unless he abstains from so doing, he is to be precluded from taking any part in Post Office duties. He does not, I need hardly say, hold any appointment under the Department. As regards Mr. Isaac's holding the appointment of Collector of Rates and Assistant Overseer, the prohibitory rule on the subject was issued in 1885, and applied only to new intrants, and not retrospectively. Mr. Isaac was appointed in 1882.
§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTONBut is this young man not paid by the Post Office?
§ MR. A. MORLEYNo, Sir. A certain sum is granted to the Postmaster, who supplies his own assistants.
§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a public meeting has been held in Brynmawr as a protest against this question being put, and at that meeting did not Mr. Isaacs, jun., declare his intention to continue the action of which I complain?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI am aware that a meeting, attended by 1,400 persons, was held to protest against the inaccuracies contained in the question. As to Mr. Isaacs, jun., I have given instructions that so long as he is connected with the Post Office he must abstain from participation in political movements.