HC Deb 08 August 1876 vol 231 cc856-8

Order read, for resuming Adjourned Debate on Question [6th July], "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair"

(for Committee on the War Department and Post Office (Remuneration, &c.) Bill).

Question again proposed.

Debate resumed.

MR. MELLOR

proposed that the House should go into Committee on the Bill on that day two months. He opposed the Bill because it would involve the Exchequer in an additional expense of £75,000 a-year. Of the persons concerned it was stated that 274 were merely learners.

Amendment proposed, to leave out from the word "That" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words "this House will, upon this day two months, resolve itself into the said Committee," — (Mr. Mellor,) — instead thereof.

Question proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question."

Mr. W. H. SMITH

explained that no person who had been employed as a telegraph clerk by any of the telegraph companies would receive superannuation allowance under this Bill, which was intended to remedy an irregularity in the appointment of the other telegraph clerks which prevented their salaries being passed by the Public Accounts Committee. In consequence of the irregularity to which he referred there were now 3,600persons in the Government service who were not entitled to be paid their salaries, and it would be a grievous injustice to them if the measure were rejected, inasmuch as they were no parties to the irregularity in question, and had taken their appointments on the faith that they were to receive superannuation allowances. The irregularity he referred to was these persons being appointed without having passed the necessary Civil Service examination, for which, however, another examination more suited to their offices had been substituted. Since the present Government had been in office these irregular appointments had ceased to be made. It was true that many of these persons had entered as learners, but they had subsequently become clerks.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Main Question, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair," put, and agreed to.

Bill considered in Committee, and reported, without Amendment; to be read the third time To-morrow.