§ MR. W. JOHNSTONI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether Mrs. Charles, an assistant in the office and a relative of the late postmaster of Pomeroy, county Tyrone, was strongly recommended for the appointment, in succession to Mr. R. S. Bates, whose orphan children Mrs. Charles undertook to keep and maintain if she were appointed; and if he will state on what grounds the Postmaster General has given the appointment to a man named Grimes, at one time secretary to the Land League, and now acting as local registration agent to the Nationalist party.
§ MR. HANBURYThere were a good many candidates for the Pomeroy sub-office, several of whom (one being Mrs. Charles) were strongly recommended by various private persons for the appointment, but from the reports which he received the Postmaster General was not satisfied as to her suitability for the post. He selected, therefore, another candidate, Mr. Grimes, who had also been recommended to him, and whose premises were suitable and well situated. The Post master General was not aware of Mr. Grimes' political associations, but he is assured that he is not acting as local registration agent to the Nationalist party?