§ SIR J. LENGI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, in accordance with his statement on 21st March last respecting postmen's prior auxiliary or unestablished service counting towards stripes, a telegraph messenger who, previous to his appointment as letter carrier, acted as rural postman, stamper, and head stamper for four years and ten months, is entitled to have that time counted towards good conduct stripes?
§ MR. HANBURYA telegraph messenger is not allowed, as such, to count his service for stripes. A telegraph messenger, however, appointed to act as a rural postman or stamper, and ceasing on such appointment to be borne on the books of the Department as a telegraph messenger, would be allowed to count such service towards stripes. It is difficult, however, to believe that any telegraph messenger could be so acting for four years and ten months, as it is the usual rule of the Department that no one under 16 years of age should handle letters, and it is also the rule that all telegraph messengers shall cease to be employed as such on completing their 19th year.