§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORTo ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there are in Dublin sixty-six assistant postmen who were formerly ex-telegraph messengers, and that despite a recent revision there are still thirty-four of them with from two to more than four years service as assistant postmen for whom there does not appear to be any immediate chance of full-time appointments; and whether, in accordance with the promise made by a previous Postmaster-General, he will take steps immediately to find full-time established appointments for these men.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The position of the ex-messenger assistant postmen at Dublin received my attention when the revision proposals referred to by the hon. Member were being considered, and, although the largest possible number of established appointments was granted, I regret that it is not at present possible to provide all those who have considerable length of service with full-time established appointments. The promise made by one of my predecessors was not as stated in the Question. It was to the effect that he would endeavour to reduce the force of assistant postmen as opportunity occurred, to such a number as would make it possible, as a general rule, for the members of that class to obtain promotion to the class of established postmen after not more than three years' -service as assistant postman, and in the case of ex-telegraph messengers, as far as practicable, by the time they attained the age of twenty. In pursuance of this promise the force of assistant postmen at Dublin has been reduced from eighty-six to forty-six under the recent revision.