HC Deb 16 May 1904 vol 134 cc1368-9
MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN (Cork)

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he will state, in view of the recent indoor revision at Cork, what are the postal qualifications of the officer selected for the position of clerk, and whether, seeing that this position of clerk is redundant, and provided to meet the annual and sick leaves of the other clerks and assistant superintendents in the sorting office, he will state how often the officer selected has performed superior duties in the sorting office, how often has he performed sorting clerk's and telegraphist's duties there; and whether he is aware that these duties are being performed for the greater part of the year by most of the officers who have been passed over, while they have never been performed by the officer selected.

(Answered by Lord Stanley.) The officer in question is fully qualified for the postal duties which he has to perform, and was the best qualified of the eligible candidates. I fully considered the claims and qualifications of all the officers standing above him on the class of sorting clerks and telegraphists. The superior duties to which the hon. Member refers are, it is presumed, those performed by the senior sorting clerks and telegraphists who act as substitutes for clerks absent on leave. The officer promoted did not perform these duties, though he was fully competent to do so, having been detached for others of a more important and responsible character. He has performed the ordinary duties of a sorting clerk and telegraphist for about six years. I do not think any useful object would be gained by discussing in this House the details of the duties which he has hitherto performed or the precise nature of his qualifications.

MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to see that the officer promoted to the position of clerk (new appointment), sanctioned under the indoor revision at Cork, fulfils the terms of his appointment and takes up the duty of the redundant clerk—viz., relieving other clerks and assistant superintendents on sick and annual leave; and, seeing that he is now the junior officer of his class, he will not be allowed to retain the duties of postmaster's writing clerk, as this duty can be provided for by senior officers on the class of clerks.

(Answered by Lord Stanley.) It is true that an additional appointment was created because an officer of the rank of clerk was required to act as substitute for officers of higher rank absent on leave or from other causes. But it would not be in accordance with the ordinary rule of the service to select the junior clerk to act as substitute on the higher class. A senior clerk would be selected, and the junior clerk will be employed on any duties for which he may be best qualified The officer selected to act as postmaster's writing clerk will be the one best qualified for the duties to be performed.

10th March, 1894. 1st February, 1904.
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