§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the methods of selection for promotion at Cardiff continue to give grave dissatisfaction; that a junior officer has recently been promoted to the rank of assistant inspector of postmen after a very brief experience of the duties, apparently on the ground that he had for years worked in close association with the local inspector; that the officers who are being passed over are thoroughly efficient and have performed all the duties proper to the rank of assistant inspector, whilst the man selected was employed continuously upon duties of a preferential character; whether any further steps are being taken to prepare two junior postmen for prospective appointments of a higher rank by placing them in the inspector's office; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to the methods which are adopted at Cardiff with such unsatisfactory results?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI am not aware that grave dissatisfaction exists at Cardiff in connection with the methods of promotion. The officer in question was promoted because I was satisfied after full inquiry that he was the best qualified of all the eligible candidates. I regret that it should have been necessary to pass over a number of men senior to him; but it was essential that the class of assistant inspectors should be strengthened, and I am assured that this result has been attained. It is not the case that two junior postmen are being prepared for prospective promotion, but the duties in the inspector's office must be given to men with the necessary clerical ability, and the selections were made with this object.