§ MR. O'DOHERTYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he can state the number of candidates who presented themselves for examination at the last examinations held respectively in Belfast, Cork, and Dublin, for clerkships in the post offices in those cities, and the number of successful candidates respectively at said examinations; the number who were examined at the last examination held in the city of Londonderry for clerkships in the post office, the number who were successful, where was the examination held, and who conducted it; and whether steps will be taken to treat Deny similarly to every other Irish city in the way of throwing these examinations open to the general public.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe result of the competition for men learners held on the 26th ultimo is not yet known; but the numbers who competed at the July examination were as follows:—At Belfast, forty-six, of whom fifteen were successful; at Cork, forty-five, of whom ten were successful; and at Dublin, eighty-seven, of whom fifteen were successful. The numbers of female competitors were:—At Belfast, 122, of whom six were successful; at Cork, twenty-five, of whom one was successful; and at Dublin, eighty-six, of whom five were successful. The last competition for female learners at Londonderry was held in May, 1900:—Seven candidates were nominated by the Postmaster General, and two were successful. The last competition for a male learnership was held in July, 1899; three candidates were nominated by the Postmaster-General, but one did not present himself for examination, and neither of the others obtained a qualifying number of marks. The examinations at Londonderry were conducted by the Civil Service 85 Commissioners, who made all arrangements in connection with the examinations. The system of recruiting the class of sorting clerks and telegraphists varies with the size and importance of the office concerned, and it is not proposed to introduce at Londonderry the system which exists at offices of the size and importance of Belfast, Cork, and Dublin.