§ MR. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, 26 with reference to the recent conference by postal telegraph clerks held in Belfast, will he explain why a general permission to delegates to inspect the system of working and the internal arrangements of the telegraph department of the post office in Belfast was declined, and an intimation conveyed that only to such delegates as came fortified with individual letters of introduction would the privilege be accorded, although in places in which the conference was previously held, including Belfast in 1885 and Dublin 1897, this request was granted; and whether he is aware that the conference was composed of delegates, many of whom were men of long service and varied experience, from every important office in the kingdom.
§ MR. HANBURYThe authorities in Ireland declined to give a general permission to the conference of telegraphists to visit the instrument room at Belfast, as they were of opinion that it might give rise to inconvenience and that no useful purpose would be served. The Postmaster-General has not considered it necessary to inquire what was the service or experience of the delegates.