§ Mr. MIDDLETONasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there is great indignation amongst the supervising staff in the telegraph department at Manchester owing to the passing over of officers for promotion; whether he is aware of the fact that a considerable number of officers were passed over in the early part of last year; and whether, in view of the fact that the supervising staff fear there is about to be a repetition, he will cause a searching inquiry to be made into the; methods of selection, employed at Manchester?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI am aware of the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers. Under the Post Office Regulations, the officer selected for promotion should be the best qualified of those eligible, and this may, on occasion, involve the passing over of officers, some of whom, although qualified, are not so well qualified as the officer selected. The recommendations in every case of promotion are carefully scrutinised at headquarters, and detailed inquiries are made in any case of doubt. I can find no adequate grounds for taking exceptional action in the case of" Manchester.