HC Deb 07 August 1912 vol 41 cc3201-2W
Mr. FIELD

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that another third-class storeman, named Mr. Gosling, has been instructed to take up duty in the Dublin depot on the 12th instant; whether the vacancy in the Mount Pleasant depot caused by the transfer of Mr. Gosling will be filled, and will the services of a man in the Dublin depot be dispensed with as a result of the transfer; whether he can state how many more men it is intended to transfer to Dublin, and why are the qualified local men being ignored while men with no experience are being transferred to fill the vacancies; whether he is aware that the first importation is a Pole; and whether he has no experience of stores work?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

Mr. Gosling is one of two unestablished porters employed in London who were selected in April last to fill two of the four vacancies for third-class storemen in the Dublin depot of the stores department and respecting whom I gave full information at: the time to the hon. Member. The resulting vacancy in London for a labourer will be filled in ordinary course. As the position of storeman in Dublin is vacant, the only officer in Dublin displaced will be a temporary hand. I have previously explained to the hon. Member why the vacancies in Dublin cannot all be assigned to local candidates. The officer described; by the hon. Member as the first importation is, it is true, a pole inspector, but it does not follow, as the hon. Member assumes, that he is himself a Pole.