MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, whether assistant postmen at Dublin, who were previously of the telegraph messengers' class, and are between the ages of 18 and 21 years, have been dismissed the service because they have failed to reach the fixed standard of weight for appointments; and, whether he would advise the reinstatement of these lads, in consideration of their service (in most cases six years), with a view to their qualification at a future date, when they are fully grown, awl that others of this class, who are under notice of dismissal, may be retained for the same purpose.
§ MR. HANBURYThere have recently been five candidates in Dublin for the situation of postman as to whose physical qualifications doubts have been raised. One of them has been definitely rejected not only on account of his being below the usual standard of weight and height, but on account of deafness. The other cases are still under consideration, and it is hoped that a decision will be arrived at very shortly.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, why the boot allowance and sick pay recommended by the Tweedmouth Committee to all assistant postmen, and to old auxiliaries who were performing five hours' duty previous to 1897, are not being paid in Dublin.
§ MR. HANBURYThe Postmaster-General finds that through some misunderstanding the allowances in question have not been paid to 12 men attached to the Dublin Office. The matter has now been put right.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, will he explain why old auxiliaries at Dublin, 1346 with a telegraph messenger and postman service ranging as high as 26 years, who have been performing full time duties, have been informed that their services can be dispensed with at any moment, in view of the recommendation of the Tweed-mouth Committee, that in making changes in the auxiliary class the rights of existing holders should be carefully preserved.
§ MR. HANBURYThe men to whom the question is understood to refer are ineligible for appointment to established situations, and they have been informed that they will be allowed to continue as auxiliaries on the understanding that their retention will give them no claim to advancement, and that their services may be dispensed with at any time when the interests of the service require it. The men are, it is true, now performing full time duties, but this is a temporary arrangement, and they will probably soon have to fall back upon their usual short time duties.