§ 36. Mr. GINNELLasked the Postmaster-General if he will state the date upon which Mrs. Somers, late postmistress at Dalkey, after twenty-three years' satisfactory service, was furnished with particulars of the charges made against her by a rival in the service; the time and opportunity given her for rebutting the charges; the date upon which her defence was considered; the date upon which she was dismissed without pension; and whether it is usual to dismiss postal officials without pension after twenty-three years' satisfactory service?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe charges made against the late sub-postmistress were fully stated to her by the officer from London who conducted the inquiry at Dalkey in December last. My decision to remove her from office was given on the 22nd of February. I endeavoured to make it clear in my reply to the hon. Member's question of the 12th May that Mrs. Somers would not have been eligible for a pension however long she had been allowed to retain her position.
§ Mr. GINNELLThe right hon. Gentleman has not said what time and opportunity were given to Mrs. Somers to make her defence?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI answered that question in a reply to the hon. Gentleman on the 4th May. I do not think there is any necessity to repeat that answer after so short an interval.