§ MR. PLATT-HIGGINS (Salford, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he is now in a position to announce the result of the inquiry promised five months ago in reference to the giving of merit stripes to unestab-lished linesmen and mechanics.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe Postmaster General has carefully considered the question and is not prepared to sanction the extension of the privilege of wearing good conduct stripes to un-established servants of the Department beyond the limits laid down in accordance with the recommendation of the Tweed-mouth Committee in 1897.
† See page 287.