70. EARL Of RONALDSHAYasked the Postmaster-General why a number of officers in the engineering branch of the Post Office were passed over in the engineering revision of 1911; is it his intention to rehabilitate them; and, if so, when?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe officers to whom he refers were not considered by their superior officers to be as well qualified as those who were selected for inclusion in the new class of assistant engineers. The claims of all officers who are regarded as qualified for promotion are considered as suitable vacancies arise.
EARL of RONALDSHAYIs it not a fact that a large number of these men have since been rehabilitated, and on what ground?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEAll their qualifications were considered, first of all by the then engineer in chief, and subsequently by a small committee. Certain men were considered to be qualified for promotion at once, and others stood over. From those who stood over selections are made as occasion arises.
§ 75. Mr. JOHN WARDasked the Postmaster-General, with reference to the engineering revision of 1911, in view of the fact that a considerable number of appointments to the class of assistant engineers have been made since 1911, and that of these only nine have been given to redundant officers, will he say exactly what is meant by the oft-repeated statement that due consideration will be given to these redundant men as suitable vacancies arise?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEOf the twenty-nine vacancies on the class of assistant engineers, for which second-class engineers were eligible, nine have been filled by selection from the latter class; the remaining vacancies have been filled from the competitions held in November, 1912, and August, 1913. It was not practicable in the interest of the service to assign a 2124 larger proportion of the vacancies to the second-class engineers, but I look forward to promoting whenever circumstances permit such of them as are reported to me to be qualified.