261
C. Roas.
success.
10.
The second officer with experience is Mr S.B. He has acted as Postmaster General with great
Hr E.A.Irving is a candidate for the post, which is a little better as regards pay than that of Inspec- tor of Schools, Mr Irving ia senior to Mr Messer, and has been granted the status of a Cadet. (Details comparing the fd salaries of the two poats omitted. E.A.I. >
But Mr Irving has had no experience in Postal work, and I do not consider that he has the special qualifi-
cations for the post that Mr Mosser possesses. On previous cccasions when vacancies in the Post Office have had to be filled, stress has been laid on candidates' possession of Postal experience.
The Colonial Secretary considered me disqua-
lified for three reasons, az follows:-
First, as having had no experience in Postal
work. Mr Ross acted as Postmaster General
for six mentha in 1003. I did not feel jus-
tified in making a protest at the time, having
always understood that acting appointments
are made entirely to suit tho temporary con-
venionco of the Government. Yet six years
later, this acting ap-cintment has the effect
of cutweighing my 8 years' seniority over
Mr Roas. When again, as quoted on page 6 above
Mr May recommended that Mr Wolfe should act
as Postmaster Geheral over my head, he was
giving that officer preferential claims to
the substantive apointment, whenever it might
fall vacant
Second, as lacking the "special qualification"
of "financial ability" and "quickness in deal-
ing with figures". I can recull no instance
of a record to that effect, and submit that
the way I have managed the work of my Depart-