§ MR. STEADMAN (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the duties of the four postmen whose places are vacant at Clapham Sorting Office, now being performed by casuals, will be allotted to the assistant postmen (ex-Army men) who have passed the Civil Service examination and been waiting seven months for the appointment.
THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (MR. R. W. HANBUBY, Preston)The vacancies referred to will not be allotted to ex-Army Assistant Postmen, as there are many ex-Telegraph Messengers with prior claims still to be provided for. I may explain that at the time the arrangement was made for giving 50 per cent. of the postmen's places to reserve men, it was also stipulated that certain telegraph messengers who entered the service before April, 1897, and who were of a certain age, should have a prior claim over the others. These claims are not yet worked out, but they soon will be.