§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, whether a decision has been arrived at by the Department whereby two acting sorting clerks at Limerick, with eight years' useful service, have been served with notice of dismissal owing to their inability to qualify in telegraphy at a very advanced age; whether this is to be understood as the final settlement of the case of the officials concerned; and will the Postmaster-General reconsider his decision, in view of the fact that the officials referred to entered the Post Office service under the disamalgamation scheme and were not called upon to learn telegraphy until they were 23 years old, and place those officers with such a lengthened connection with the Department on the establishment without the necessary telegraphic qualifications.
§ MR. HANBURYThe acting sorting clerks referred to are those who were required, in accordance with the rules of the service, to qualify in telegraphy before being placed on the establishment; they were informed as far back as June, 1897, that they could not be retained in the service if they failed to qualify, Although they have since been granted further opportunities to qualify they have not become efficient in telegraphy, and have been definitely informed that their service as acting sorting clerks must be discontinued, but they have been offered nominations as postmen, which they have, however, declined. The eldest of these persons of "very advanced age" is 25. Other candidates under similar conditions with respect to age and service have been able to obtain the necessary qualifications, and there would be no justification for appointing the two 906 officers in question without such qualifications. They have been treated with great consideration, and the case is now finally settled.