In June, 1902, Mr. Hay, M. P.,[380] asked the Postmaster General, through the Financial Secretary to the Treasury: "With reference to the fact that the proportion of appointments above $800 a year in the Central Telegraph Office, London, now bears the same relation to the staff below that salary as during the period when the circular [1881 to 1891] was issued promising a prospect of $950, whether he is aware that during the years 1882 to 1892 the proportion was one appointment above $800 to 5.5 below [that salary], and that the proportion at the present time is one appointment above $800 to 6.4 below; and, seeing that this difference of proportion represents nearly forty appointments, above $800, whether he will take steps to readjust that proportion on the basis of 1 to 5.5?"[381] In 1906, Mr. Hay was made a member of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants. In April and in August, 1902, Captain Norton asked the Postmaster General, through the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, to appoint so many additional senior telegraphists that it should no longer be necessary to call on men in the class below to act as substitutes for the senior telegraphists who were taking their annual leave of one month.[382] In 1906, Captain Norton became a Junior Lord of the Treasury in the Sir Campbell-Bannerman Ministry. In February, 1902, Mr. Plummer[383] stated that at Newcastle-on-Tyne thirty-eight telegraphists, who had, on an average, served 27 years each, were waiting for promotion. "Will the Postmaster General facilitate promotion by enforcing in the future the Civil Service Regulation with reference to retirement[384] at the age of sixty years?" Mr. Austen Chamberlain, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, replied: "The Postmaster General would not feel justified in enforcing the retirement of any efficient officers for the purpose of accelerating the promotion of others." On August 1, 1902, Captain Norton repeated the request.[385] On November 24, 1902, Mr. O'Brien asked the Postmaster to create more rapid promotion at Liverpool by retiring all men who had qualified for the maximum pension [two-thirds of salary], irrespective of the fitness of such men to continue to serve.[386] On June 19, 1902, Mr. Keir Hardie asked the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General: "Whether he will state the special qualifications which necessitate the retention in the Postal service of the assistant superintendent, Mr. Napper, and the inspector, Mr. Graham, at the West Central District Office, after reaching 60 years of age; and if the probable date of retirement can be given?" On July 28, 1902, Mr. Keir Hardie asked: "If he will state what are the special qualifications which necessitate the retention of the inspector, Mr. E. Stamp, at the North Western District Office, after attaining the age of 60 years; and if he can give the probable date of this officer's retirement?"[387]