§ Mr. GILLISasked the Postmaster-General what are the pension rights which will not be affected by the transfer of the staff of the stamp section to the General Post Office in 191; whether it is a fact that the staff made a specific claim both at the interview and in previous correspondence leading up to the interview; whether he will lay upon the Table a copy of such correspondence and the official record of the interview; and what is the objection to supplying each of the established non-clerical officers of the stamp section, who were compulsorily transferred from the Inland Revenue Department in 1914, with a statement as to the age from which their unestablished service will be reckoned for superannuation purposes?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYIn 1914 a memorial was received from the warehouse staff of the stamp section transferred to the Post Office from the Inland Revenue in which they asked for an assurance "that the arrangement between the Board of Inland Revenue and the Treasury as to the counting of their unestablished service from the age of 16 will be recognised by the General Post Office." At the request of the memorialists the matter was represented to the Treasury who, in reply, stated that the transfer to the Post Office would in no way prejudice the men's claims to superannuation. They were informed to this effect at the interview in 1915. The final decision as to the pensionable service of these officers rests with the Treasury, and it is not the practice to approach the Treasury in individual cases until the persons affected are about to retire. I see no reason for treating the present case exceptionally.