§ Mr. AMMONasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the appointment of Mr. J. H. Crowder, sorting clerk and telegraphist, Liverpool, to the sub-postmastership of the West Kirby sub-office; whether he is aware that Mr. Crowder has passed over 129 men on the postal establishment at Liverpool and a number of senior qualified officers on the telegraph establishment; that applicants for the vacancy were informed in the Post Office Circular that a manipulative knowledge of telegraphy was required for this appointment; that Mr. Crowder is not a qualified telegraphist and that fully qualified officers with equal experience have been ignored; that the appointment has given rise to dissatisfaction among the staff; and if he will take action to compensate those officers who have been passed over?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONOnly 10 officers senior to Mr. Crowder on the postal establishment at Liverpool, and 13 officers on the telegraph establishment applied for the salaried sub-postmastership of West Kirby sub-office. Seven of these did not possess the necessary qualifications and the remainder were not regarded as so well fitted for the vacant post as Mr. Crowder. Mr. Crowder
2086Won the registers of the Devonport Employment Exchange on each Monday in June, 1926:
possessed the required manipulative knowledge of telegraphy and was fully qualified for appointment. Appointments to salaried sub-postmasterships are not made in the ordinary course of promotion and officers who are not successful in obtaining such posts have no claim to compensation.