§ Mr. SEDDONasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that it is only at the smallest post offices that a sorting clerk and telegraphist is placed in charge of the office during the absence of the postmaster on annual leave, he will state whether it is customary to leave large sub-offices in charge of unestablished officers for the same reason; and, if so, whether he will make inquiry with a view to directing that at no office where established postmen and other established officers are employed shall unestablished officers be placed in charge while the sub-postmaster is on annual leave?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIt is desirable, both on grounds of efficiency and economy, that the duty of a sub-postmaster who is absent on annual leave should be performed, whenever possible, by a member of the local staff, who is774W necessarily better acquainted with the local conditions than an officer from another office. If no member of the local staff is qualified to take charge, an established officer is usually sent from another office. So far as I can ascertain, these arrangements work satisfactorily.