MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether any applications were received from qualified postal servants for the postmastership of Cootehill which recently became vacant; and whether any appointment has been made, and, if so, whether the office has been given to a member of the service or to a person outside the service; and, if the latter, will he explain why existing and willing postal servants were passed over.
§ MR. HANBURYApplications were received from four postal servants for the sub-postmastership of Cootehill, Monaghan. An appointment has been made in this case, the selected candidate being a person outside the service. It was considered necessary, in order that an efficient control might be exercised over the twelve established and auxiliary postmen attached to the Cootehill sub-office, that a man should be appointed. Of the four applicants already in the Post Office service, three are women, and therefore unsuitable candidates. The fourth, who is not an established officer of the department, does not reside at Cootehill, and on this ground was passed over in favour of a candidate resident in the town and eligible in all respects.