§ MR. STEADMANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, if he will give favourable consideration to the petition of Postman Heather, of Reading, who, for accidentally missing a train on 22nd June 1891, and consequently arriving on duty an hour late, was not only fined one day's pay and deprived of his stripe (with the allowance attached thereto) for one year, but has also been compelled to forfeit credit for all auxiliary service prior to the commission of the offence so heavily punished?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonHeather was not punished for missing his train, which he did not miss on the day named. After arriving at Reading early on the morning of the 22nd of June, and receiving instructions to attend at the office for duty, he neglected to do so, and thus delayed the delivery by one hour. He was not deprived of his good conduct stripe, as he had not one to lose. His actual punishment was the loss of a day's pay. He was appointed postman in January 1890, and had previously served as auxiliary since September 1886. In strictness, the award of his first stripe might have 319 been deferred until June 1896—namely, five years from the date of misconduct, but he received it in January of that year. Heather will become eligible for a second stripe, assuming his conduct to merit it, in January 1901.