§ MR. SLOANI beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether, in view 314 of the fact that he has at present under consideration a memorial from the headquarters staff of the North of Ireland engineering district relative to the retention of the headquarters at Belfast, he can say why instructions have been issued locally to the staff to proceed to Dublin on 1st March next; if arrangements are being made to have the office furniture removed to Dublin on the 27th inst.; whether it is the practice for subordinate officials to carry out suggested changes before he has given his final decision on appeal; and can he state when the latter decision may be expected.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThe decision to remove the headquarters of the North and South of Ireland engineering district to Dublin was arrived at in December last and the necessary information was given to the staff with a view to the change being effected by the 1st of March. The staff at Cork and a number of the staff at Belfast have accepted the change. A memorial from the junior clerks at Belfast was considered in connection with and before the decision was given. A further memorial was received on 24th January which I am now answering. Meanwhile for the sake of the staff it was necessary to advise them to give notice of removal, such notices in Ireland being necessarily given on 1st February. If the decision were altered the notices could be cancelled.