§ Mr. WILESasked the Postmaster-General if he would state the number of appointments made from the sorter class to the position of established sub-postmasters and postmasters during the past ten years; whether there is any limit of salary above which sorters and officers of similar rank are not promoted to such positions; and whether he would consider the advisability of reserving a certain proportion of such appointments as an outlet for the promotion of sorters?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELDuring the past ten years seven London sorters have been appointed established sub-postmasters or postmasters. A much larger number have been appointed from the cor- 177W responding class of sorting clerks and telegraphists in the provinces, where the training is such as to fit the men better for supervision of both postal and telegraph work. There is no limit of salary above which officers of these ranks are not promoted to such positions. It would not be fair to other classes to reserve a certain proportion of appointments as postmaster or sub-postmaster as an outlet for promotion of any particular class.