§ MR. BROADHURST (Nottingham, W.)asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether pre-transfer Telegraph Clerks can, under "The Telegraphs Act, 1868," still claim the title and privileges of "Clerks in the permanent Civil Service of the Crown;" and, if so, what lights and privileges does that Act confer upon them; and, has the Postmaster General the power to substitute the title of "Telegraphist" or "Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist," either of which apparently deprives such pre-transfer Telegraph Clerks of their rights and privileges?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER) (Isle of Wight)The rights of pro-transfer clerks are fixed by The Telegraphs Act, 1868, and they are entitled to the rights and privileges which are determined by the character of the offices to which they were appointed in the same way as other officers and clerks in the permanent Civil Service of the Crown. By Sub-section 7 of Section 8 of the Act means wore provided whereby the question whether an appointment offered to a pre-transfer clerk was of equal value with an appointment previously held by him should be ascertained at the time of his appointment by agreement, or, if necessary, by arbitration. No change of title or description can, in my opinion, alter the rights which pre-transfer clerks now possess by virtue of their appointment.