§ Mr. SLOANasked the Postmaster-General if appointments to postmasterships
have been made during the past 20 years from the postal staffs at Belfast; whether such officers have been qualified for such a position; and, if not, can he state what are the necessary qualifications they should possess?
§ Mr. SYDNEY BUXTONAs the hon. Gentleman is aware, the postmasterships are open to all the service, the competition is great, and the selection is carefully made but cannot be decided by local distribution. I regret that no appointment of postmaster has been made for some years from the postal staff at Belfast, though, as I stated to the hon. Member, 12 appointments to postmasterships in the last 20 years have been made from the telegraph side.