The British State Telegraphs / A Study of the Problem of a Large Body of Civil Servants in a Democracy

by Hugo Richard Meyer

[303] “But I do not think I ought to conceal the fact that the majority of our members are the postmasters of small and medium sized places who have very likely got, according to our ideas, more grounds for grievance than the postmasters of larger towns.”

[304] That the peculiar demands and ideals described in these chapters are by no means confined to the Post Office employees, is shown by the subjoined quotation from a Treasury Minute of March, 1891, relative to an Inquiry by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury into the Administration of the Outdoor Department of the Customs Revenue Department, to wit: “Besides the alleged loss of promotion through a reduction in the higher appointments, and the various arrangements by which they considered that they were injured in their emoluments or as to the hours of working, the officers of all grades complained of the existing system of promotion. They contended that it was unfair and fortuitous in its operation, and did not pay sufficient regard to seniority.”—Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Post Office Establishments, 1897; q. 12,577.

[305] Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Post Office Establishments, 1897. Testimony of the representatives of the Postmasters’ Association: Mr. J. G. Uren, Mr. W. E. Carrette (Queenstown), Mr. John Macmaster; and Appendix, p. 1,127.

[306] Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Post Office Establishments, 1897, Mr. Joseph Shephard; q. 3,117 to 3,126, and testimony of Mr. J. C. Badcock, Controller London Postal Service.

[307] Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Post Office Establishments, 1897; q. 1,614.

[308] Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Post Office Establishments, 1897; q. 15,219, Mr. Lewin Hill, Assistant Secretary General Post Office, London; and 5,290, Mr. Jas. Green.

[309] Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Post Office Establishments, 1897; q. 15,217, Mr. Lewin Hill, Assistant Secretary General Post Office, London; and 5,282 to 5,284, Mr. Jas. Green.

[310] Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Post Office Establishments, 1897; q. 15,097, Mr. W. H. Preece, Engineer-in-Chief at the Post Office; and 4,876, Mr. E. J. Tipping.

[311] Who’s Who, 1905.

[312] Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates, March 23, 1903, p. 1,464; and May 7, 1903, p. 27.