HC Deb 12 March 1895 vol 31 cc870-1
MR. L. P. HAYDEN

On behalf of the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin (Mr. W. Field), I beg to ask the Postmaster General will he explain on what grounds a Naval Reserve man has been appointed acting rural postman between Cork and Waterfall, while several duly-qualified telegraph messengers employed at the Cork Office were passed over in making such appointment; whether such appointments are expressly forbidden by Post Office regulations while such messengers are available; and whether men of this class have been found satisfactory servants hitherto?

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. ARNOLD MOKLEY,) Nottingham, E.

It is the case that a Naval Reserve man has been placed temporarily on the duty of rural postman between Cork and Waterfall. The question of a permanent appointment is now under my consideration, and in coming to a decision I will take care that the claims of qualified telegraph messengers employed at the Cork office are not overlooked. I have no reason to think that men of the Naval Reserve have been found to make unsatisfactory post office servants.