asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that, generally speaking, auxiliary rural postmen are not capable of engaging in gainful employment after their retiral from the post office service; that, by virtue of the terms of their appointment, they are not entitled to any pension and must rely for income on the old age pension; and if so, if he will consider the desirability of arranging for the payment of a substantial retiring allowance to such deserving public servants.

The Superannuation Acts do not permit of the award of retiring gratuities to part-time officers such as auxiliary postmen. Any proposal for an alteration in the Superannuation Acts would have to be considered by the Minister for Finance in its relation to the Civil Service as a whole, and I see little prospect of any change being made, so far as part-time officers are concerned, within any foreseeable time.