Chapter XVI

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC
SERVANTS WHO HAVE BEEN DISCIPLINED 302

Evidence presented before: The Royal Commission appointed
to inquire into the Civil Establishments, 1888; and the
Tweedmouth Committee, 1897. Instances of intervention by
Members of Parliament. Mr. Austen Chamberlain, Financial
Secretary to the Treasury, in April, 1902, states that
at a low estimate one-third of the time of the highest
officials in the Post Office is occupied with petty questions
of discipline and administrative detail, because of the
intervention of Members of Parliament. He adds that it is
"absolutely deplorable" that time and energy that should be
given to the consideration of large questions must be given
to matters that "in any private business would be dealt with
by the officer on the spot." Sir John Eldon Gorst's testimony
before the Committee on National Expenditure, 1902.