§ MR. J. LOWLES (Shoreditch, Haggerston)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that several railway companies and other large employers of organised and disciplined labour have announced their intention of celebrating Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee by completely removing and cancelling all adverse reports or records of misconduct now existing against individual members of their staffs; and whether he will follow the same course with respect to the Metropolitan Police, many of whom are denied promotion or privileged duty owing to offences committed many years ago?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI was not aware that such was the intention of any of the railway companies or other large employers; but, however that may be, the adoption of a similar course 630 by me in regard to the Metropolitan Police could only, I am afraid, be prejudicial to the welfare both of the public and the force.
§ MR. LOWLESI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he will follow the example set by many large employers of organised and disciplined labour, who have announced their intention of celebrating Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee by cancelling all adverse reports or records of misconduct now existing against individual members of their staffs, by removing all disabilities and hindrances to promotion in every department of the Post Office, consequent upon breaches of discipline or other misconduct on the part of the men, which may have been recorded against them to their prejudice?
§ MR. J. L. CAREW (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he will consider the advisability of recommending that all records against the postmen of Dublin and other cities be written out and cancelled on the commemoration of the 60th year of Her Majesty's reign?
§ MR. HANBURYI think it will be convenient if I reply to the Questions of the hon. Member for the Haggerston Division of Shoreditch and the hon. Member for the College Green Division of Dublin together. The Postmaster General is not prepared to adopt the suggestions made by the hon. Members. The discipline records in question are preserved in order that the Department may be in possession of the necessary information respecting the conduct and abilities of its servants, to enable it not merely to mete out punishment and rewards, but to see that unfit men are not promoted to positions of trust, and to prevent the grave injustice which would arise if men of good conduct were not to receive the consideration which they deserve. The records are also necessary for pension purposes.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENM (Kilkenny)asked whether it was not the fact that on the occasion of the Jubilee in 1887 this was done in the case of the Army and police?
§ MR. HANBURYI can only answer for the Post Office. I cannot answer for the Army and the police.