§ MR. AUSTIN TAYLOR () Liverpool, East ToxtethTo ask the Postmaster General if he will state the number and weekly wages of the postmen at Liver-pool who, during the past twelve months, have attended the telegraph school at that office, and how many have been declared efficient and have been retained in the telegraph department at Liverpool,
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) Twenty postmen, at wages ranging from 19s. 6d. to 28s. a week, have attended the telegraph school at Liverpool. Twelve are now being employed in the telegraph branch, of whom ten have attained the first standard of efficiency, and one has passed the second standard.
§ MR. AUSTIN TAYLORTo ask the Postmaster General, seeing that a telegraphist at Liverpool, who was number twenty-five on the seniority list, has recently been advanced to the clerks class, whether he will state what opportunity of appeal was afforded the seniors before they were passed over.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) In making promotions the officer best qualified for the vacant post is selected. I fear it would not be practicable to give the officers who are not selected an opportunity of representing their claims before a decision is arrived at.