§ Mr. HUDSONasked why it has been found necessary to advertise in the public Press for Post Office engineers, in view of the number of sub-engineers qualified for this position in January, 1910, who were recently informed that there were no vacancies at present; whether it was intended to promote these existing fully-qualified officers before appointing the outside applicants; and whether it is the Postmaster-General's intention to subject these applicants to a competitive examination similar to that imposed in the case of candidates nominated from universities and colleges?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIt is not necessary permanently to increase the authorised complement of engineers, and such additional men as are to be sought from outside sources are required to meet a special and temporary need in connection with the telephone transfer. All the sub-engineers referred to have already been allocated to this or equivalent work, but their number is not sufficient. The temporary engineers, having no prospect of continued employment, there is no need to subject them to the educational and technical tests applied to candidates seeking established posts with ultimate prospects of promotion to higher positions.