§ * SIR WILLIAM WILLS (Bristol, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, how many telegraph messengers in the Bristol Post Office have received notice of dismissal, and for what cause; and, whether the Department will arrange that these messengers may be promoted to the rank of postmen as vacancies may occur?
§ MR. HANBURYTwenty-nine Telegraph Messengers at Bristol have recently had notice to leave—four because their conduct has not been satisfactory, and the remaining 25 because there is no prospect of permanent employment being found for them. The Department cannot undertake that these messengers shall be recalled as vacancies for postmen occur. The regulation on the point has been laid down mainly in the interests of the lads themselves. If they remained on as telegraph messengers until the age of 18, the Department would be no more able to give them appointments then than it is now, and it will be obvious that, at the age of 16, lads are better able to learn a trade or prepare themselves for other employment than they are at the age of 18.