§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, with reference to the recent promotions in the Telegraph Department of the Belfast Post Office, will he explain why three members of that Department, with services of 29, 25, and 23 years respectively, have been superseded by juniors with service of under 11 years; and upon how many 884 different occasions have these men respectively been so treated; whether he is aware that, in respect of the senior of these men, it is alleged that a compact was entered into, in consequence of which he was induced to continue his services to the Crown on the occasion of the transfer of the telegraphs to the State, and that this man in the early days of the Service, at a difficult time, rendered efficient service to the Department as a capable telegraphist, and that he holds an unblemished character; and that, as regards the other two, these men have at all times duly performed the duties which they have been called upon to perform; and, whether he will state what steps will be taken to safe guard in the future the interests of these men?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonThese three officers have been superseded on several occasions because they were not fit for promotion. No compact was entered into with the senior of these men in consequence of which he was induced to continue his services to the Crown on the acquisition of the telegraphs by the State.