§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Postmaster-General whether applicants to local postmasters for extra employment at Christmas time have been compelled, in the first instance, to register their names at a Labour Exchange; and whether he has given instructions to the officials at such Labour Exchanges that preference in all cases is to be given, irrespective of other considerations, to applicants who are below forty-five years of age?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe additional assistants required for the Christmas pressure are being recruited through the Labour Exchanges. The limits of age for candidates are, and have been for some years, nineteen and forty-five, and in view of the generally exacting nature of the Christmas work in the Post Office, I do not think it would be advisable as a rule to admit men over forty-five682W years of age. I may add, however, that the cases of men over that age who have been previously employed in the Post Office and have given satisfaction receive special consideration.