To ask the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that Miss Howse, the president of the Association of Post Office Women Clerks, was recently superseded by three of her juniors, notwithstanding the fact that she has been in the Post Office service thirteen and a half years, and during nine or ten years has been employed on special duties, he will state what official reason was put forward by the lady superintendent for thus superseding this young lady.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether it was with his sanction that the lady superintendent of the Post Office Savings Bank recently conveyed to Miss Howse the information that, although her work was excellent, she was passed over for promotion because she was insolent and insubordinate; whether the only insolence and insubordination that this young lady was guilty of consisted in being president of the Association of Post Office Women Clerks, and in taking an active part in furthering the interests of that association; and seeing that this lady superintendent has acted in a similar manner towards her subordinates in several other instances, will he say what steps he intends to take in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) Miss Howse has herself properly approached me on the subject of the recent promotions at the Savings Bank, and I am inquiring into her case and her allegations. Pending my decision it is highly improper that a Member of Parliament should have been approached in the matter. If I thought that the officer in question had herself instigated or been cognisant of the Question I should be unfavourably impressed with her judgment or her fitness for promotion.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether it is with his permission that the lady superintendent of the Savings Bank Department frequently exceeds her official duties by having covert threats of dismissal, and without preferring any charge, conveyed to her subordinates who may be suspected of matters which are personally disapproved of by her; if not, will he give instructions that methods of this description must be stopped, and that all charges made must be in writing with full opportunity of defence to the suspected person; and will he state the age, length of service, and date of retirement of this lady superintendent.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that he has accorded full liberty to Post Office servants to combine in their own interests, he will explain whether it was with his permission that the lady superintendent of the Post Office Savings Bank conveyed to her subordinates the information that she disapproved of the Association of Post Office Women Clerks, that she disapproved of their holding meetings, that she disapproved of their giving evidence before the Select Committee on Post Office Servants, and that she would not allow them to hold meetings in the Savings Bank premises; whether he is aware that she sent her own particular friends to take private notes of the proceedings when meetings have been held by these women clerks outside the Post Office buildings, and that she afterwards sent for the speakers at such meetings and cautioned them; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) It is well known in the service that officers who may consider themselves aggrieved by the action of their superior officers can lay their alleged grievances before me. I much regret, therefore, that any officer in the service should have preferred publicly to promulgate anonymous and unsubstantiated statements such as those contained in the Questions.