§ MR. STEADMANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster- General, whether he is aware that police pensioners are about to be employed as hall porters, in the room of allowanced postmen, in the new post office at Liverpool; whether the Postmaster-General is aware that these easy positions, being reserved for postmen, enabled many postmen to hold out at work until sixty years of age; whether two ex-police-sergeants about to be appointed to these positions are in receipt of pensions of 35s. and 40s. per week respectively; and whether policemen who, receive two-thirds of their pay in pension after twenty-six years' service (making them about forty-eight years of age) are now to be added to soldier pensioners in claiming the easy places in the Post Office formerly held by postmen.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HANBURY,) PrestonThe answer to the first paragraph is "Yes," and to the second "No." The duties of doorkeepers and night patrols are more suited to police constables than to postmen, and it is in contemplation to extend to Liverpool the London system under which a force of police pensioners is employed on such duties. The change, which will effect a considerable reduction of expense, will be carried out gradually. No appointments have yet been made.