§ Mr. CRUMLEYasked whether the Postmaster General has yet completed his inquiries into the alleged order given by the postmaster of Enniskillen on the 17th March to a telegraph messenger boy to remove a bunch of shamrock from his cap; whether he has found the allegation to be true; and, if so, how has he dealt, or proposes to deal, with the postmaster who so far exceeded his duty?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI find the facts were as follows. At Enniskillen the majority of the Post Office staff wore the shamrock on St. Patrick's Day, without objection from the postmaster, and members of his family did the same. The telegraph messenger boy in question, however, had covered his uniform cap with a large wreath of shamrock, which gave him a grotesque appearance, and this he was told, for that reason to remove. No objection was taken to the bunches of shamrock with which his patriotic fervour had led the boy to decorate his coat in addition. It is clear that the postmaster did not exceed his duty, and if disrespect was shown to the Irish national emblem, it was by the telegraph boy rather than by the postmaster.