§ Mr. WILLIAM ABRAHAM (Dublin Harbour)asked whether it is an invariable rule of the Post Office to fill the lower grades of established appointments by nominations or examinations within the country in which vacancies occur; and the cause of the delay in filling the vacancies for third-class storemen in the Dublin stores branch by the appointment of the eligible officers who have been performing the duties for some time past?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThere is no general rule, though when a staff has a separate local classification the case is as the hon. Member suggests. The store-men in Dublin, however, are not a separate class but are contained on the same class as English and Scotch officers. If this were to be altered and the promotions in Dublin reserved for Irish officers, it would be necessary to reserve promotions in Great Britain to English, Scotch, and Welsh officers, and the consequence might well be that the Irish officers would not be the gainers. The promotions referred to have been delayed by a technical difficulty, but I hope to carry them out shortly.