§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)To ask the Postmaster-General under what circumstances the usual practice of inviting applications from the whole indoor staff, for the position of provincial clerk in charge at Belfast, was departed from on a recent occasion, when three men were selected to do this work; what special qualifications the men selected possessed; and why men with longer service and better qualifications were passed over.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) It is not the practice to invite applications from the staff for the duty of taking charge of vacant offices. I am assured that the three officers whose names were recently added to this list are not only fully competent to perform the duties, but were considered to be the most suitable of the eligible officers.