§ 37. Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the Postmaster-General whether he can see his way to waive the Regulation that permanent postmen must be at least five feet four inches in height in the case of men who served in the Navy, Army, or Air Force, during the War?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe answer is in the negative.
The minimum height limit for the appointment of candidates as postmen is 205 fixed at five feet four inches, on account of the nature of the work which they are liable to perform. Sorting normally forms part of a postman's duties, and a man below the minimum height would experience difficulty in reaching the upper parts of the sorting frames. The number of ex-service candidates who satisfy the requirements of the Regulations is greatly in excess of the number of places available, and a candidate below the minimum height could only be accepted at the expense of a candidate who complies with the Regulations.
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRWhat justification can there be for regarding able-bodied ex-service men as physically unfit to perform the duties of postmen? If it is a matter of height and of reaching the sorting frame could not a box be provided on which the man could stand?
§ Lieut. - Colonel ACLAND - TROYTEDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that a man who is fit to carry a pack in France is unable to carry a package of letters here?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONIt is not a question of physical fitness, it is a question of the actual physical height. The particular man whose case was brought to my attention was ineligible on other grounds, not having a sufficient length of service.
§ Mr. E. BROWNDoes the right hon. Gentleman not consider that this Regulation does a great injustice to one of the best battalions which served during the War, the Bantams Battalion?
§ Major COLFOXCan the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea of whether many of these men are disqualified?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThere are a considerable number of applicants, but we have a very large number of applicants who are of suitable height, and it would be an injustice to them, and I am not prepared to abandon the Regulation.
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONYes, all ex-service men.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is a maximum height?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the same objections which he is advancing now against the employment of men of that height were advanced by the War Office at the beginning of the War and is he further aware that no battalion covered itself with greater distinction than the Bantams Battalion?
§ Mr. DUFF COOPERIs it not a fact that under this Regulation Bonaparte would have been ineligible to be a postman?