§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the endorsement of the record of an executive official of the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association for writing an article dealing with Post Office affairs in a magazine; whether, under the rules of the service, an officer is entitled to submit an explanation and defence of any charge made against him before a damaging entry can be made in his records; whether this rule was applied in the case of Mr. Ash; and, if not, whether he will state the reasons for this departure from an established rule?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe hon. Member has been misinformed. There is a general rule of the service which prohibits officers from corresponding with newspapers on official matters. Mr. Ash, who is a counter clerk and telegraphist, broke this rule, and his attention was called to the matter for his future guidance. A memorandum of the fact was made in his official record in ordinary course; but the entry is not a damaging entry and this is made clear by its terms. There was no need to call upon Mr. Ash for any explanation. The fact that he is an official of the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association has no bearing on the case.