asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will review the conditions of long-service men in the Post Office in view of the number who are employed for many years and yet retire without a pension or gratuity.

I have no discretion to review the superannuation Acts, which apply to the Civil Service generally. These Acts, however, already provide for the payment of pensions to established officers—and of gratuities to full-time unestablished officers—who retire after long service. They do not cater for officers with long service in a part-time capacity, but in the Post Office such officers can, in cases of need, receive a grant from a small fund at the Postmaster-General's disposal.

Is not the Assistant Postmaster-General aware that there are scores of thousands of unestablished officers in the Post Office who will never participate in a pension scheme, and if he cannot alter the superannuation Acts, can he not arrange to bring these people within the Act by getting them established?

No, Sir, I am afraid not.