§ Mr. DOUGLAS HALLasked the Postmaster-General if he will state what boy messengers have done for their country that they should be given two-thirds of the vacancies for male sorters over the heads of much older men amongst the postmen and porters, who are only permitted to compete for one-third of the vacancies, half of these postmen and porters being old soldiers and sailors who have put in seven years' service with good conduct and must necessarily be at least seven years older than the boys?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)Sorterships are not given as a reward for services rendered to the country. But the country, in my opinion, owes it as a duty to the boys whom it employs that as few as possible shall be dismissed at the age of adolescence without definite prospect of permanent employment; and I have already stated that the recent changes have been made with that object in view.