§ * MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN (Cork)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the disparity in the punishments administered in the Cork Post Office; that for a mis-sent letter report, an officer was recently punished with two hours extra duty without pay; whilst for the loss of a remittance letter containing money, afterwards accidentally found, only nominal notice was taken; that for mis-sending two letters, a caution, in the surveyor's name, was recorded against an officer, and the same notice only was taken of a sorting clerk absent from duty for one day; that for an error of 1s. odd in the cast of a parcel list a sorting clerk was fined one day's pay, and cautioned in the Postmaster-General's name, whilst for an error of £10 in the preparation of a surcharge return on the part of another officer, no notice was taken; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of an investigation into the state of affairs at Cork Post Office by a trustworthy officer.
LORD STANLEYI am not aware of the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers, but, with the exception of the caution in my name, all the punishments awarded were within the power of the local authorities to administer. They doubtless, in each case, took into consideration any special circumstances. I may add that in such cases I am unwilling to in any way interfere with the decisions of the local authorities, in whose fairness I have complete confidence.
§ * MR. J. F. X. O'BRIENIs the noble Lord aware that the system of espionage prevalent in the Cork Post Office is very irritating and causes a great deal of trouble?
§ * MR. J. F. X. O'BRIENWill the noble Lord investigate the matter?