§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that four 187 female officials in the Banbridge Post Office have recently complained in writing to the Post Office authorities that on several occasions moneys, the property of the Postmaster General, were stolen from their several drawers in the office, which moneys they had to make good out of their salaries; and, seeing that inquiries were instituted on these complaints, whether he can give the name of the person detected taking money out of the drawer of one of the complainants, and say what connection she had with the office; whether she will be prosecuted; or, if not, what action will be taken in the matter; and will the moneys stolen from the other clerks be refunded to them.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINComplaints as described have been received in regard to alleged losses at the Banbridge office, but it was only recently that the charge of pilfering could be brought home to any officer. The Postmaster General was advised that the case was not one in which he should institute a prosecution; but he has dismissed the officer in question. The circumstances are not such as to justify the losses being made good by the Department. The Postmaster General does not think it right to state the name of the dismissed officer.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENIs it not the fact that the detective officer who went down to investigate actually caught some one taking money out of the drawers?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINMy information is not to that effect. In any case, each assistant has a key to the drawer in which she keeps cash and valuables, and she should take sufficient precautions to prevent any pilfering.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENThen on what ground was one of the assistants dismissed?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI have said that my information is not to the effect that the offender was actually caught pilfering.