§ Mr. MIDDLETONasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the grave dissatisfaction existing in the Eastern Central District Office regarding promotion of postmen to assistant head postmen; the principle upon which such promotions rest at that office; whether he is aware that men are appointed to higher posts regardless of seniority, and that men formerly considered as not possessing the requisite qualifications for promotion have recently been appointed, to posts as assistant head postmen, while many men junior in service have secured overseerhips; and whether he will state the average number of men passed over by officers who have been promoted during the last 12 months?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. All vacancies for assistant head postmen in the London Postal Service, whether in the Eastern Central District or elsewhere, are filled by the promotion of postmen selected from the whole of London. Merit and not seniority is the deciding factor in the selection; and the postmen selected for promotion are those who are considered to be the best qualified for the duties of the higher post. It necessarily happens on occasions that men passed over as not being the best qualified are subsequently selected for promotion, either on account of improvement on their part or the removal of stronger competitors. The average number of postmen passed over on the occasion of promotion to the assistant head postmen's class is about 750 out of more than 11,000 on the class.