§ Mr. MAURICE HEALYasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the stagnation of promotion in the Cork Post Office and the official announcement that the promotion of the Cork staff to existing vacancies will depend upon the qualifications of the officers concerned, he will state what qualifications are required other than those of good conduct, long service, or technical ability; and whether he will ascertain immediately how many of the Cork staff are fully qualified for promotion, and state the position these officials occupy: on the seniority list?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELTheir probable efficiency in the class in which officers will serve is necessarily the principal factor in determining promotion; but no man is promoted whose conduct is not good and due weight is given to length of service and technical ability. Where a number of men are' eligible for promotion the question that arises when a vacancy occurs in the higher class is which of them is the best qualified, and it would not be a convenient course to follow for me to ascertain and announce this as regards the Cork staff in anticipation of a vacancy occurring.