HC Deb 03 March 1908 vol 185 cc537-41
MR. SAMUEL ROBERTS (Sheffield, Ecclesall)

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General what political organisations now exist with his sanction in connection with the Post Office service; and whether any, and what, directions are issued to them for their guidance.

THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON,) Tower Hamlets, Poplar

No sanction from me is necessary for the formation of societies among Post Office servants, political or otherwise. The existence of such societies is not necessarily brought to my knowledge, unless they infringe the Regulations laid down for the conduct of Post Office servants as civil servants. There are no separate Post Office Regulations dealing with political organisations as such. But the action of the members of such societies is governed by the Regulations dealing with the conduct of Post Office servants as civil servants. I have already informed the hon. member of the nature of these Regulations. In interpreting the Regulations which state that Post Office servants as civil servants ought to exercise a certain reserve in political matters, I have adopted a uniform principle in dealing with the various societies to which my attention has been directed. There is no objection to the formation of societies, political and other, among Post Office servants, provided Post Office servants do not take a prominent or active part in political contests; but, in order that there may be no doubt as to the observance of this Rule, it is not expedient that such societies should be specific branches of societies which take an active part in politics.

MR. SAMUEL ROBERTS

inquired what political organisations at present existed in the Post Office.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

Those to which my attention has been drawn by Questions in the House and otherwise are three—the Civil Service Socialist League, the Tariff Reform League, and the Free Trade Union. I had intended to give that information in Answer to a Question by my hon. friend the Member for Christchurch which was to have been put to-day.

MR. SAMUEL ROBERTS

Is not the proper course for the right hon. Gentleman to take either to exclude all political organizations—

* MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member is not entitled to suggest a policy under the form of a Question.

EARL WINTERTON (Sussex, Horsham)

Did the right hon. Gentleman say his attention had only been called to this matter by Questions in the House?

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

said he expressly stated that his attention had been drawn by Question and otherwise. He had endeavoured in this matter to deal with the subject totally apart from any opinions of his Own in regard to political questions. He had endeavoured—and he thought he had succeeded—to apply exactly the same administrative rule to every organisation which had come under his notice.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN (Worcestershire, E.)

I recognise that the Postmaster-General is endeavouring to deal fairly with this matter. My special reason for intervening—[Cries Of "Order, order."]

* MR. SPEAKER

I really must ask the right hon. Gentleman to put what he has to say in the form of a Question. If the right hon. Gentleman sets an example of breaking the rules it will be impossible to enforce them on others.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

I am very sorry I have transgressed the rule. I was endeavouring to make a personal explanation. I will go at once to the question. Does the right hon. Gentleman think that, in view of the existence of a Socialistic organisation, a Tariff Reform League organisation, and a Free Trade Union organisation in the Post Office, it is possible any longer to maintain his refusal to admit the Primrose League?

MR. O'GRADY

Is it in order for the right hon. Gentleman to ask for an expression of opinion in view of the fact that if we do so in a Question, it is ruled out of order at the Table?

* MR. SPEAKER

Any Question may be put as to a matter of policy or administration for which the Minister is responsible.

Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON

said the regulation was that Post Office servants should exercise a certain restraint in political matters, and, therefore, it did not seem expedient to form in the Post Office a league which was only a branch of an association outside which took an active part in politics. That was the rule which he had laid down for himself in dealing with these matters. He had no objection to the formation of associations in the Post Office so long as they were Post Office associations and not branches of outside organisations. That was a rule which he had applied in every case.

SIR F. BANBURY (City of London)

Is not the Free Trade Union a1 branch of a political organisation?

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

I have answered that Question.

MR. CURRAN (Jarrow)

inquired whether it was true that the Civil Service Socialist League had decided that it would take no part in current politics.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

That is so.

MR. R. DUNCAN (Lanarkshire, Govan)

Will the right hon. Gentleman deal with all four associations on the same lines?

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

Certainly.

MR. COURTHOPE

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General, whether he is aware that the Free Trade Union has recently formed a branch in the Post Office; that the Free Trade Union in the election at South Leeds urged the electors to vote for the Liberal candidate although there was another free trade candidate in the field; and whether, in these circumstances, he will still permit the Post Office branch of this organisation to remain.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

I find on inquiry that the Free Trade Union, constituted by officers of the Post Office, is independent of, and is not a branch of, the Free Trade Union, and has, therefore, no responsibility for the acts of the latter.

MR. COURTHOPE

asked whether none of the organisations which the right hon. Gentleman had mentioned were party organisations.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

I have stated that the regulation laid down by the Post Office, and stated in this House by Mr. Gladstone when First Lord of the Treasury, was that Civil servants should not take a prominent and active part in political contests. Therefore, it seems to me that, while there can be no objection to the formation of these associations for educative purposes within the Post Office, it does make a difference if they are actually a branch of an association taking an active part in political contests. That is the measure by which I have judged this matter, and I have applied exactly the same rule to each of these associations.

SIR F. BANBURY

Is the right hon. Gentleman afraid of the Primrose League, but not of the other organisations?

EARL WINTERTON

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that the Post Office branch of the Free Trade Union has no sort of connection with the Free Trade Union outside?

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

I said so.

MR. STANLEY WILSON (Yorkshire, E.R., Holderness)

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would now give all political organisation equal rights in the Post Office.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

I have explained to the House the view that I hold, and I intend to mete out precisely the same measure to every association.