§ MR. STEADMANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, will he explain why Post Office servants, who are members of Volunteer corps other than the 24th Middlesex, have this year been refused leave to attend camps of instruction, although they have offered to forego a part of their annual leave for this purpose, whilst substitutes were found by 904 the Department for members of the 24th to enable them to attend the camp at Aldershot; why postmen belonging to the 24th Middlesex are allowed (without deduction from their pay) the time needed to enable them to attend their annual inspection, whereas those belonging to other corps are required to find and pay for their own substitutes; and whether instructions will be given to the heads of postal departments to see that in future all Volunteers shall receive equal treatment in these matters?
§ MR. HANBURYThe Postmaster General is not aware that any Post Office servants, who are members of Volunteer corps other than the 24th Middlesex, have been treated differently to Post Office servants who are members of the 24th Middlesex. As regards the London postal service, the requirements of the public service would not admit of all the men who were desirous of going to Aldershot being spared, and lots had to be drawn to determine who should go and who should remain behind. In this drawing at least six men belonging to a corps other than the 24th Middlesex took part. The men belonging to the 24th Middlesex are allowed absence, without deduction of pay, for the annual inspection under the Postmaster General's authority.