§ Mr. ALDENasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an officer, a Mr. W. O. Harsent, who has served his department for nearly twenty-five years in an unestablished capacity, during fourteen years of which period he performed duties now carried out by a promoted officer, has recently undergone an operation, while he is now qualified for admission to an established appointment; whether he is aware that the officer in question was ordered to be reduced 3s. per week in wages as a condition of his being allowed to take up the appointment, although the wage he was receiving was proper to the class to which he was appointed; and whether he will take steps, in view of his many years of service, to restore him to the scale of pay he has been deprived of?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe reduction of Mr. Harsent's wages was in accordance with the Treasury rule that, subject to the minimum of the scale, a deduction of 10 per cent. must be made from the pay of an unestablished officer on appointment to the establishment. This deduction is made in view of the superannuation and other benefits pertaining to an established appointment, and I have no power to waive it. I may add that before Mr. Harsent was1348W placed on the establishment he was informed how his pay would be affected, and he requested that his appointment might be proceeded with.