§ MR. NANNETTII beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the superintending engineer in the Irish northern district, at Belfast, takes upon himself the responsibility of saying where his clerical staff shall reside; and whether this is in conformity with the rules of the service.
LORD STANLEYI find that the superintending engineer referred to was recently asked by his senior clerk in Belfast whether there was any rule governing the distance from the post office within which a servant of the department must reside. He replied that he was not aware of any rule, but that every member of the staff is expected to reside within such a distance from the office as to be accessible, if required, at an emergency. This reply was quite right; and the question of the application of this principle in any particular case is one within the discretion of the superintending engineer.