§ MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that recently a sorting clerk and telegraphist attached to the Dublin Sorting Office was ordered to proceed from thence to Amiens Street Railway Station to see if he would be required as an extra travelling post office hand on the journey to Belfast; that the assistant superintendent in charge of the 808 sorting office on the occasion, and responsible for the issuing of these instructions, followed this officer to the railway station; and that, while awaiting instructions from the officer in charge of the travelling post office, he was accused by the superintendent of loitering; and seeing that the sorting clerk so treated was an officer of long service and good character, will the Postmaster General cause an inquiry into all the circumstances of this case.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe visit of the assistant superintendent to the railway station had no connection with the instructions given to the officer in question. He went there for another purpose in accordance with directions given him the previous evening; but it is the case that the officer in question was called upon to explain why he did not take up the duty in the sorting carriage more promptly. The Postmaster General does not consider it necessary to take any further steps in the matter.