Mr. MONTAGUE BARLOWasked the Postmaster-General why the sub-postmasterships at Prestwich, Ramsbottom, and Radcliffe were recently filled without being advertised in the Post Office Circular, as is customary in similar cases, thereby depriving sorting clerks and telegraphists in the Manchester office of an opportunity of becoming candidates for the positions; whether he would state under what circumstances the appointments were given to the present holders; and whether he was aware that there are nearly 200 sorting clerks and telegraphists at Manchester at the maximum of the scale, a large number of whom are without reasonable prospects of promotion?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI decided to confer the sub-postmasterships at Prestwich, Ramsbottom, and Radcliffe upon the present holders because it appeared to me that it was in the interests of the service that provision should be made for them. In one case the officer who had formerly been at Manchester was considered to have a claim to a transfer to a suburb of that city; in another he was receiving personal emoluments above the salary of the office he was holding; and in the third he was blocking a position for an officer of lower rank. The hon. Member is approximately correct as to the number of sorting clerks and telegraphists at Manchester at the maximum of the scale, but speaking generally the prospects of promotion at Manchester are not inferior to those at other offices of the same class.
Mr. BARLOWMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is proposed, as a regular matter of policy in future, that these vacancies should not be advertised?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo, Sir.