§ MR. DALY (Monaghan, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that Fred Braden, postman, Ballybay, attended an Orange demonstration on 12th July, at Clones, and waved an Orange banner in the face of several persons on the platform; whether he can state how Braden was away from his duties on 12th July; and whether it is in conformity with, the rules of the Post Office for employees to attend party demonstrations; and, if not, what steps does he propose to take in the matter?
§ MR. HANBURYFrederick Braden, rural auxiliary postman, Ballybay, obtained leave of absence on the 12th instant to attend a demonstration at Monaghan, but he states that he took no part in the procession. The constabulary on duty at Clones, on the arrival of the train from Ballybay, and on the departure of the train for Monaghan, where the demonstration took place, report that no person was observed waving an Orange banner, and they believe that no such incident occurred. There is at present no regulation specifically forbidding Post Office servants from taking part in such processions; and the Postmaster General 1343 has not hitherto seen any reason for restricting the freedom of Post Office servants in this respect.