§ VISCOUNT VALENTIA (Oxford)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the case of Charles Henry Wade who (after 27 years' service as a civil servant) was dismissed from the Post Office, thereby forfeiting all benefits for which he had contributed out of his pay, has been reconsidered; and, if so, whether the Postmaster General has, considering the length of Wade's service, his previous good conduct, and the fact that the offence of which he was guilty was the result of a deception on the part of a friend, any intention of rescinding Wade's dismissal?
§ MR. HANBURYMr. Wade has had a very unsatisfactory record at the Post Office, and has been treated with great forbearance. He was first tried in the Savings Hank Department, and when removed from there, the Postmaster-General decided that he was never again 398 to be employed in that Department. He was then tried in the Postal Stores Department, the Controller of which reported that he was slow at his work, and quite unsuited for any position of trust or responsibility. He was finally tried in the Receiver and Accountant General's Office, where he failed in two branches, and was on his final trial in the branch where he used his official position to obtain cash for the cheque referred to, contrary to the rule of the Department. On two occasions during his career his increment was suspended in consequence of his unsatisfactory conduct. In view of all these circumstances, the Postmaster General, after careful consideration, came to the conclusion that Mr. Wade was not an officer whose continued employment in the Department was desirable or possible, and called upon him to resign. I shall be very glad to show the noble Lord a complete record of Mr. Wade's service.