§ MR. HANBURY TRACYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is the intention of the Government to utilize the labour of Soldiers during the time of peace in the construction, maintenance, and working of the Telegraph systems of the country; and whether there are any Soldiers at present trained in Telegraphy, whose services might be thus economically employed?
CAPTAIN VIVIANsaid, he was happy to be able to give an answer which he hoped and believed would be entirely satisfactory. About a year ago, when it became evident that the control of the 531 telegraphs of this country would come under Government management, his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War put himself in communication with his noble Friend the Postmaster General, for the purpose of discovering how far military labour could be utilized in the maintenance and working of the telegraph system. It was then arranged that employment for somewhere about 100 would be found under the new system. During the last twelve months, 100 soldiers had been undergoing a course of tuition for the purpose of preparing them to perform the duties of the Telegraph Department, and his right hon. Friend was now in communication with the Postmaster General to learn how many men could be ultimately employed in this work, and on what conditions they were to serve.