§ Mr. NANNETTIasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that something like 600 of the sorting clerks and telegraphists attached to the Dublin sorting and telegraph offices have signed a memorial to the Chairman of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants repudiating the evidence given by Sir A. King before the Select Committee that discontent at Dublin was confined to a very small minority, and stating that, the memorialists were much dissatisfied with the promotion system and the administration generally of the sorting and telegraph offices; and whether, in view of the discontent existing there, he would, pending the Report of the Select Committee, lessen the power of the controllers of these offices in the matter of making selections from the sorting clerk and telegraphist staff for promotion?
§ Captain NORTONMy right hon. Friend is not aware of the circumstances referred to in the first part of the hon.1874W Member's question. As regards the last part of the question, the controllers in the Dublin Post Office have not power to do more than make recommendations for promotion, and he does not propose any alteration.
§ Mr. NANNETTIasked the Postmaster-General whether the present controller of the Dublin sorting office passed a competitive examination on entering the Post Office service; "whether he had a university degree or any other recognised standard of education; whether he obtained his promotion from grade to grade by a system of selection; and whether he took into account without imposing any test the educational fitness of men when, recommending them for promotion?
§ Captain NORTONThe answer to the first two parts of the hon. Member's question is in the negative, and the answer to-the third part is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, my right hon. Friend has no reason to doubt that the controller of the Dublin sorting office takes into account all the qualifications of the men concerned when making recommendations for promotion.