THE MARQUESS OF HAMILTON (Londonderry)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that a notice was posted in the Londonderry Post Office on the 11th instant stating that annual leave was suspended temporarily; will he state by whose authority this course was adopted; what arrangements are being made for the resumption of leave; on what date will the leave recommence; and what notice did the officials due to go on leave receive of the stoppage of their leave.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The grant of annual leave is always dependent on the exigencies of the Service, and the Postmaster of Londonderry found that the pressure of work rendered it impossible to allow the usual number to have leave this month. There were two officers already on leave and four employed on official duty elsewhere. Every effort is being made to reinforce the staff at Londonderry and to expedite the resumption of the usual arrangements for annual leave. The earliest possible notice was given of the unavoidable temporary suspension of leave by the Surveyor's direction.