HC Deb 16 July 1897 vol 51 c305
SIR ELLIOTT LEES

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, as the issue of good conduct stripes in accordance with the terms of the Tweed-mouth Committee Report is retrospective, a postman who had 20 years good conduct would he deprived of his fourth stripe for an offence committed since the fourth stripe became due?

MR. HANBURY

In the words of the Committee— Stripes are the reward of good service and good conduct, and we are strongly of opinion that each stripe should in itself be a proof that it was awarded after live years umblemished service. The Committee add— We are also of opinion that as stripes are the toward of good conduct they should as a general rule be forfeited for serious misconduct. It is clear from those recommendations read together that any serious misconduct committed by a Postman would forfeit a stripe already earned, and it follows that similar misconduct committed after the stripe has become due would prevent its being granted.