§ DR. MACNAMARAI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he 443 can state to the House the result of the investigation promised by his predecessor, in the debate on the Post Office Vote on the 27th of April last year, into the grievances suffered by postmen under the present system of awarding good conduct stripes.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe Postmaster General has carefully considered the matter, but he is unable to make any alteration in the rules governing the award of good conduct stripes such as was suggested. A good conduct stripe is a reward for five years continuous good service, and the inequality of treatment in certain cases is inherent in any system which aims at rewarding continuous good service, whatever the qualifying period may be.