§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, what steps were taken to ascertain the fitness of the postmen promoted in Dublin, of which question was made on the 30th ultimo, and whether one of the allowance holders promoted objected to take up the position on the ground of his unfitness, and has since returned to his former duty; whether it is intended that all postmen senior to the most junior of those promoted are to be debarred from all promotion, and will he state how many officers have been passed over by each of the men promoted to head postman, assistant head postmen, and assistant inspector of telegraph messengers respectively; whether in the case 661 of a second class assistant inspector of postmen, who has been promoted over the head of the first class assistant inspector to the position of inspector of postmen, the question of the fitness of the first class assistant inspector for this position could not arise, as he has always performed the relief duty of the head inspector, and was performing it up to the date of the appointment of his junior, who had never previously had experience of this duty; and on what grounds was this officer promoted over others who were higher classed?
§ MR. HANBURYThese appointments are made not by seniority but by merit, and in every case the man considered to be most qualified was appointed.