§ MR. STEADMAN (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, whether he will state the reason that within the last two years the new observation overseer has been created at E.C.D.O.; whether he is aware that two of these overseers have since the date of their appointment, now nearly two years ago, been almost exclusively engaged in watching the men on one or two walks only, although no definite charge of any description has been brought against any of those men; and, will he, in accordance with the tenor of the statements he has frequently made on behalf of the Postmaster-General in this House, see that the practice is discontinued.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HANBURY,) PrestonThe two overseers referred to were appointed in February last year for the purpose of checking postmen on delivering duties, and submitting proposals for rearrangement of walks where necessary. It is not the case that the overseers have been almost exclusively engaged in watching the men on one or two walks only. On the contrary, a large number of walks have been re-adjusted, as the result 1050 of their work, to the benefit of nearly 150 postmen; and occasional irregularities have been put a stop to. The Postmaster-General has no intention of discontinuing the services of the overseers in question, and I do not know what the hon. Member refers to when he speaks of the tenor of my observations.