§ MR. HENRY BROADHURST (Leicester)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if the intention to employ women at the Tunbridge Wells post office was anterior to the year 1893, when candidates for appointments in that office were required by the local postmaster to express their willingness to be transferred to another town should the exigencies of the service demand the same; and, whether he is aware that candidates recently appointed have not been, required to express such willingness?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonThe intention to employ women at the Tunbridge Wells post office was expressed in the year 1892, when candidates for appointments were required by the postmaster, under directions from Headquarters, to give the undertaking referred to. Through a misunderstanding some of the officers who have since been appointed were not required to give this undertaking, but they have now been informed that they must hold themselves in readiness to be transferred later on to some other town should the exigencies of the service demand it. Every care will be exercised, however, by the Department to consult the convenience of the staff in making such transfers as may be necessary; and it must be recollected that, in any case, the Postmaster General possesses the right to transfer officers from one town to another in the interests of the Service.