§ Mr. DOUGLAS HALLasked the Postmaster-General whether it is intended to abolish the open competition examination for male sorters in the service of the General Post Office?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)I am endeavouring to reduce to a minimum the number of boy-messengers who are dismissed from the service of the Post Office with no definite prospect of permanent employment, and with that object in view, to increase, so far as possible, the number of posts within the Department available for those boys. A large proportion of these boys attain a, satisfactory standard of education, and I have decided, with the concurrence of the Treasury and the Civil Service Commissioners, that the class of male sorters shall in future be recruited mainly from the boy-messenger class by means of limited competitive examination. The open competitions will be discontinued, but a proportion of the vacancies will still be reserved for competition among postmen and other adults already in the Post Office service.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKECan the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether he is prepared to advise the Government to advance to those boys who are unable to take advantage of the Post Office a sum sufficient to enable them to pay their emigration expenses to over-sea Dominions?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThat does not arise out of the question, but one of my colleagues has lately stated that the Government does not intend to subsidise emigration.
§ Colonel YATEIs there any reason why those boys who are retained after they have attained the age of sixteen years should not enlist in the Army, and after they have done their service be given appointments in the Post Office?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIf the hon. Member will be good enough to refer to the Report of the Departmental Committee which I appointed on this subject he will find that question fully discussed there, and certain proposals are made in respect of it.