§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in Liverpool, Glasgow, and other places, there are assistant postmen with more than three years service for whom there appear no chances of early appointment to full duties; and whether he will take steps to remedy this, in accordance with the promise made by the Postmaster-General in 1903 that assistant postmen should be given full appointments after not more than three years service as assistants, and on reaching the age of twenty.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) I am aware of the facts to which the hon. Member refers. The difficulty results from the scheme whereby half the vacancies on the class of postmen are given to ex-soldiers or ex-sailors, and half to Post Office servants. During the war the operation of the scheme was disturbed, since Reservists could not be obtained, and consequently an undue proportion of Post Office servants entered the class of assistant postmen. The scheme being now once more in full operation, the Post Office servants, not withstanding their excessive numbers, have only half the vacancies as full postman, and consequently their promotion is retarded. I trust that this state of things, though unfortunate, is only temporary, and no effort on my part shall be spared to relieve it. No absolute promise was made in 1903 that full appointments would be given after not more than three years service as assistant postman, or before reaching the age of twenty. My predecessor undertook only that this should be done as far as possible.