§ 83. Lieut.-Colonel JAMESasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the reason for the continued retention of non-service messengers in the Board of Trade, Mines Department, and Department of Overseas Trade; and whether it is proposed to effect their discharge before any temporary ex-service messenger?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKI have been asked to reply. There are three non-service unestablished messengers employed in the Board of Trade, out of a total staff of 180— one in the Mines Department out of a total of 16, and seven in the Department of Overseas Trade out of a total of 34. The question of substituting ex-service men for these 11 men has been considered many times and they have been retained on grounds of special efficiency, long service and private circumstances. Their names will be considered with others whenever it may be necessary to reduce staff, but I cannot guarantee that all these men will be discharged before any temporary ex-service messenger is discharged.