Mr. ARTHUR HENDERSON, Junr.,asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the position of certain temporary clerks employed in the Cardiff General Post Office since 1914, whose employment as afore said was regular from 1914 to 1920, but from 1921 has been of a casual nature; and whether he will consider the possibility of such clerks being absorbed into the permanent establishment?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHI am aware that there are a few temporary sorting clerks and telegraphists at Cardiff who were employed continuously from dates between 1914 and 1917 until December, 1920, and who have been re-employed intermittently since. These men were employed to take the place of men who were serving with the Forces and were aware of the temporary nature of this employment; they were, however, given an opportunity of securing permanent appointments by means of a special com petition limited to war-time temporary officers which was held in September, 1921, but they either did not compete, or failed to obtain sufficient marks to secure appointments. Their subsequent employment has been casual. Sorting clerks and telegraphists employed on the postal side at the large offices are now recruited by means of examinations among other grades of the Service, and there is no system of appointment by1764W single nomination; and I, therefore, regret that it is not possible to provide a further opportunity of permanent appointment to the temporary sorting clerks at Cardiff.