§ 42. Mr. HANCOCKasked the Post master-General whether, seeing that a higher standard of qualifications has been stated to be required for the new classes created under the revision, he is aware that among the rejected officers were men who had but recently passed a Civil Service examination for second-class engineerships, whilst among the officers promoted were many who held no such certificate, 916 but yet are recognised as efficient assistant engineers, and that in very many cases the controlling officers in charge of the redundant engineers have all along been prepared to testify as to their efficiency and general suitability for advancement; in these circumstances will he say why vacancies which have been filled from other sources during the past two years were not given to these men?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Captain Norton)The Civil Service examination referred to was held to afford members of the redundant class of sub-engineers an opportunity of qualifying for the old second class of engineers. It was not of the same character as that for the new class of assistant engineers, for which a higher standard of qualifications is required. Two of the officers who qualified at the Civil Service examination have been promoted to the class of assistant engineers, and the claims of the remainder will continue to be considered as suitable vacancies arise. It was necessary, however, in the interests of the services, to recruit a certain number of officers through the examination for assistant engineers.