§ Dr. ADDISONasked the Postmaster-General whether a number of porters at the Eastern Central District Office have been employed for some time on despatching duties, which were formerly performed by sorters, and subsequently by the old class of senior postmen and lobby officers; and whether these duties belong to those of the head-porter class; if so, whether he will cause these vacancies to be filled by the promotion of porters to the rank of head porters?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)Certain porters at the Eastern Central District Office are employed on the despatching platform on work appropriate to their class, and not to the class of head porters. At some other offices a small portion of work of the same description is performed by head porters, not because it is considered to be proper to that class, but for the purpose of filling up the officers' time. It should in strictness be performed by porters, and will be given to officers of that class as opportunity offers.