21. Mr. ALFRED DAVIES (Clitheroe)asked the Postmaster-General whether he authorised the advertisement in the public Press inviting applications for the position of assistant-inspector of wireless telegraphy; if so, whether there are no officers on the present supervising staff with the necessary qualifications for the position; whether the chief of the wireless branch has stated that it is not a question as to whether an officer can perform the duties but whether he is of a particular class; and whether it is proposed to bring in outsiders and deny promotion to suitable members of the present supervising staff because they do not belong to a certain class?
§ Mr. PEASEYes, Sir. As the advertisement indicates, the duties of the post referred to require a high standard of scientific and general educational attainments. None of the existing supervising staff possesses all the qualifications required. Considerations of social status will not influence the selection; and the statement of the inspector of wireless telegraphy referred to the personal and 96 educational qualifications desirable and not to the question of social class.