§ MR. STEADMAN (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, why the repeated applications of the postman Swansboro of the chief office for a re-transfer from the E.C. to various suburban offices have been refused, notwithstanding the fact that the man in question has been able to procure men to change with him (this, in cases of men with good character, has never yet been refused); and whether the reason the applications are refused is because Swansboro is a member of the Postmen's Federation?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (for Mr. HANBURY)Swansboro has already been transferred at his own request from the Northern district to the Eastern Central district, though he had no claim to transfer. Such changes do not conduce to the benefit of the Service, seeing that the postman concerned has to be to some extent taught his duty afresh, and some 445 time must elapse before he becomes efficient in his new duty; and it was for this reason that Swanboro's several requests for further transfer have been refused. It may be the case that no application for a first transfer has been refused to a postman of good character; but the Postmaster-General has no definite information on the point.