§ Mr. LAWRENCE (Liverpool, Abercromby)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is now in a position to state the result of the inquiry regarding the rectification of the number of superior appointments in the provinces which was promised by His Grace in the Post Office Circular of the 10th August last; and whether, in consideration of the fact that 10 months have elapsed since the promise was made, the Postmaster General will, in the event of his inquiry being a favourable one, consider 1221 the propriety of ante-dating the appointments so as to compensate for the delay which has occurred?
§ MR. HANBURYReadjustments of the numbers of superior appointments in the provinces in accordance with the promises made by the Postmaster General and myself in August last have already been carried out at many of the larger Post Offices; and within the last few days the authority of the Treasury has been received for further revisions on the same lines at several other offices. The remaining offices are being dealt with as speedily as possible. As personal inquiry is necessary in each case, and no avoidable delay has taken place in carrying out the promised revision, the Postmaster General does not propose to ante-date the new appointments. They will take effect, according to rule, from the respective dates of Treasury authority.