§ Mr. SLOANasked the Postmaster-General whether the senior assistant surveyor attached to the northern division in 2124W Ireland paid a visit to Londonderry about April last; if so, was such visit made in connection with Post Office business or in his capacity as an officer of the Territorial Force in order to attend to the daily evolutions of the troops in the local barracks; if the former, did his duties in the main consist of dealing with official correspondence, and could these equally as well have been disposed of from his official headquarters in Dublin; if the latter, had he permission to attend and daily participate in the military evolutions of the troops; if so, by whom was this permission granted; did he claim and has he been paid subsistence allowance for the period that he remained in Derry; and over what period did his stay extend?
§ Mr. SYDNEY BUXTONThe Assistant Surveyor referred to visited Londonderry on Post Office business in April last. He remained at Londonderry from 23rd to 30th April; his stay there was fully justified, and the duties which he performed could not have been discharged at his official headquarters in Dublin. I understand that this gentleman is a member of the Territorial Force, that he had to attend a certain number of drills in order to comply with the efficiency regulations, and that he was permitted by the military authorities to put in three of these drills in the scanty leisure time which he had while at Londonderry.