§ MR. JOHN WILSON (Durham, Mid.)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he can state the number of postmasterships vacant during the past three years which were filled by persons not previously in the Civil Service and by pensioned Civil servants other than Post Office servants, respectively; and whether he will state the reasons for filling superior posts in the Post Office Department in this manner, in view of the dearth of promotion and the want of prospects existing throughout this Department.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) I cannot find that any head postmastership vacant during the past three years has been filled by the appointment of a person not previously in the Civil Service or by a pensioned Civil servant other than a Post Office servant. Small sub-offices which do not occupy the whole time of the sub-postmaster are frequently given to local shopkeepers and others unconnected with the Civil Service. But the emoluments of these posts are small, and I do not understand the hon. Member to refer to them when he speaks of "superior posts" in the Post Office.