§ MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the Secretary to the 973 Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that the sorting clerks and telegraphists attached to the Dublin Sorting Office held, on 14th September last, a public meeting to protest against the importation of officials to fill the higher positions in that office; and that the Controller of the Dublin Sorting Office stated that he had not one man on his staff capable of filling the higher positions; will he undertake that an inquiry into the entire matter be granted; and will he say whether it would be possible to find positions equally as lucrative for these imported officials in their own districts; and, if so, would their removal from Dublin be considered.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe Postmaster General is aware that such a meeting was held. Since December, 1900, five officers have been selected from outside the Dublin Office to fill two Superintendent ships, one Assistant Superintendent ship and two Clerkships. These appointments were so filled because the officers selected were better fitted to perform the duties than any of the officers within the Sorting Office who would in ordinary course be considered as eligible for the appointments. The principles followed in making these promotions are those which would be followed in similar circumstances at any other office of the Department, and the Postmaster General is therefore not prepared to consider whether it would be possible to find equally lucrative positions for the promoted officers in their own Districts. Each promotion was very carefully considered by him and he fails to see that any useful purpose would be served by instituting an inquiry such as the hon. Member suggests.
§ MR. NANNETTIThe hon. Gentleman has not answered my question whether the controller said "he had not one man on his staff fit to fill the higher positions in the office." Is that the case, and if so, will an inquiry be held?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI do not think that the Controller made that statement. It is not specially dealt with in the answer, but I understand that he did not. I do not think there is any case for inquiry.
§ MR. NANNETTIWill the hon. Gentleman inquire as to whether or not the statement was made—
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order: The hon. Member must give notice of any further Questions.
§ MR. NANNETTII beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will state the salary and length of service previous to promotion of Messrs. O'Donnell and Hawkins, sorting clerks and telegraphists, imported from Derry and Queenstown, respectively, to fill the positions of supervising clerks in the Dublin Office; and will he explain why those supervising clerkships were not given to Dublin men.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINMr. O'Donnell entered the service of the Post Office on 15th July, 1890, and he was in receipt of wages of 50s. a week at the time of his promotion. Mr. Hawkins was appointed on 12th May, 1885, after two years unestablished service. At the time of his promotion he was in receipt of 52s. a week. The reason for not filling from within the Dublin Sorting Office the clerkships to which these two officers were promoted, has been given to the hon. Member in reply to his previous Question.