§ Mr. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)To ask the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that in his recent circular applying the recommendations of the Hobhouse Committee the present officers of the sub-engineers' class are not specifically mentioned, it is his intention that the Committee's recommendation in respect to these officers, viz., that after three years sub-engineers' service, provided they are pronounced suitable and capable, they be promoted to second-class engineerships, is to be applied to existing sub-engineers.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I do not find that any recommendation was made by the Select Committee in respect of the present members of the sub-engineers' class. Paragraph 490 of the Report, which deals with the question of sub-engineers, applies only to sub-engineers recruited in the manner proposed. I may say, however, that existing sub-engineers will continue to be eligible, if they prove their fitness, for promotion to the class of second-class engineers.