§ MR. HARRINGTONasked the Postmaster General, Why the employment of young women in the telegraph service is not more general in the provincial districts in Ireland, and why head offices like Waterford, Derry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Killarney, Clonmel, Mallow, and Tralee are not open to the employment of females; whether most of these offices are free from night duty, and suited to the employment of females; and, whether, in anticipation of increased traffic in the telegraph department, he will promote the establishment, in different towns in Ireland, of schools, such as that established in Limerick by Lord Emly when Postmaster General, for the training of competent telegraph clerks of both sexes?
§ MR. FAWCETTSir, I can assure the hon. Member that I am most anxious to promote the employment of women in the telegraph and other branches of the Postal Service. One of the difficulties which often prevent their employment is the unsuitability of the buildings, as in many cases no separate accommodation can be provided. Care is taken to attend to this whenever new offices are rented or built. A few females are employed at four of the offices mentioned in the Question; only one of them is free from night duty. With regard to the establishment of additional telegraph schools in the Provinces, I may mention that it is the practice at most offices to train recruits in the instrument room, and this system has been found to answer well. The Limerick school was discontinued soon after its establishment, as it appeared that there was no sufficient demand for its services.