§ MR. C. E. SHAW (Stafford)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he will explain why the appointment of inspector of postmen at Stafford has been given to a man who was at Shrewsbury post office, whose age is about thirty years, and whose length of service is about eleven or twelve years; why about twenty men at Stafford post office have been passed over, some of whom have been in the postal service from twenty-five to thirty years; whether the usual custom and rule of promotion in such cases has been strictly adhered to; and, if not, will he say why it has been departed from.
§ THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON,) Tower Hamlets, PoplarThere was no postman at Stafford fully qualified to perform the duties of inspector of postmen. I therefore felt it necessary to select an officer from another office in accordance with the usual practice in such cases.
§ MR. C. E. SHAWIs it not the fact that one of the local staff was appointed pro tem to fill the position for fifteen months?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONPossibly he may have been tried temporarily, but not successfully. I have not the facts before me.