§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that the overseer's vacancy which occurred on the town establishment of the South Eastern Metropolitan District by the promotion of Mr. May to an inspectorship at another office, has been, filled by the transfer of an officer on the suburban establishment, thus diverting a town vacancy to the suburbs; and whether, in view of the fact that the chances of promotion in the suburban establishment are 75 per cent, better than in the town, he will cause the vacancy to be restored to the establishment in which it originally occurred.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The Postmaster General is aware of the effect of the promotion in question, and has already arranged that the balance of promotions shall be readjusted on an early opportunity by the transfer of a town overseer to a suburban vacancy.