§ MR. W. THORNE (West Ham, S.)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that for the past six years forty-seven unestablished officers have been employed at the Eastern Central district office on regular and responsible delivery duties; whether he is aware that most of these men are in full outside employment; and whether, having in view the state of unemployment throughout the country, he can see his way clear to increase the established staff by means of the duties referred to.
§ THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON,) Tower Hamlets, PoplarThe unestablished officers in question are auxiliary postmen who attend for half a day's work daily in order to assist with the last delivery. I am afraid they cannot be replaced by established full-time postmen; to do so would involve considerable waste of force.