§ MR. STEADMAN (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, whether certain telegraph clerks at Edinburgh, having arrived at the efficiency barrier, are being asked by 982 the Controller to furnish particulars with reference to their technical knowledge, and their further progress been threatened; and whether, in view of Paragraph 6 of the Postal Circular, dated Tuesday, 10th August, 1897, containing the decision of the Norfolk-Hanbury Conference, the Postmaster-General will cause an inquiry to be made into the circumstances.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HANBURY,) PrestonThe case of several telegraphists in Edinburgh whose salaries had approached the efficiency bar came under consideration, and, in regard to two of these telegraphists, the Controller thought it only right to satisfy himself, before reporting them as not qualified to pass the bar, by personal inquiry respecting their efficiency. Beyond this there was no intention to examine them in regard to their technical knowledge. The Tweed-mouth Committee, on whose recommendation the efficiency bar was introduced, stated in their Report that no officer should be allowed to pass this bar without a satisfactory certificate of the excellence of his conduct and of his ability to perform the highest duties of his class. The two officers in question in Edinburgh could not, unfortunately, be certified to be fully qualified for these duties.