HC Deb 25 February 1904 vol 130 c1002
MR. NANNETTI

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he can explain why from one hundred and thirteen to one hundred and seventy-nine men were passed over in the recent promotions to the clerks' class in the Dublin Post Office; can he say what were the special qualifications of the selected men; and why the claims of officers, who had been acting as clerks for a considerable length of time and who had long service and excellent records, were overlooked.

LORD STANLEY

The officers referred to were not promoted because they could not be certified to be the best qualified for the duties of supervision and control devolving on the class of clerks. The claims of all eligible officers were considered, whether they had temporarily acted as clerks or not, and I am satisfied that the officers selected were those best fitted for promotion.

MR. NANNETTI

Do they have to pass a competitive examination before getting promotion?

LORD STANLEY

Each case is decided by myself after seeing the officer's record.

MR. NANNETTI

Have you done away with the examination altogether?

[No answer was returned.]