Mr. NUGENTasked the Postmaster-General whether a vacancy exists in the 779W telegraph branch, Dublin Post Office, in the assistant superintendents, Class 2, three vacancies in the overseers class, in addition to two of the same class on military service, leaving an actual shortage of five in that class; whether similar vacancies in Great Britain have been filled, and, if so, why this differentiation is made in the case of Ireland; and whether one assistant supervisorship (female) has been abolished and a chief superintendent, chief female supervisor, and an assistant superintendent, Class 1, retained in the service after reaching the retiring age, thereby retarding the promotion of those entitled to it by merit and service?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHIt is the case that certain of the vacancies which have arisen during the War on the supervising grades in the Telegraph Office at Dublin have been left unfilled, the altered conditions of the traffic admitting for the present of a reduction in the supervising staff. Similar vacancies at many offices in Great Britain remain unfilled for the same reason. In present circumstances a large number of Post Office servants are being retained beyond the age of sixty, which is that of permissive retirement; and I am not prepared to require efficient officers to retire on reaching the age of sixty merely in order to increase the flow of promotion. This was not done even in peace time.