§ MR. STUART-WORTLEY (for Mr. FITZ-PATRICK)asked the Postmaster General, Whether the telegraph clerks on the Great Southern and Western Railway and other Railways, Ireland, were transferred from the old Telegraph Companies and placed under the present Post Office as Clerks in the Civil Service; whether they enjoy all privileges guaranteed to them under that transfer, or under the terms of the Playfair Commission; and, whether it is not a fact that many of these clerks, having been in the service twelve, and in some in- 1363 stances eighteen years, are now only receiving 21s. a-week salary, for which they are expected to work ten hours a day alternately with ten hours' night duty, as well as five hours on Sunday?
§ MR. FAWCETTSir, I could not answer the first part of the Question addressed to me without prejudging the case of the telegraph clerks in general, which I am now investigating. The Question of the hon. Member only appeared on the Paper yesterday morning, and I have not had time since to communicate with the Department in Ireland respecting it, so that if the hon. Member will give me the details of the case to which he refers I shall be very much obliged to him. I can assure him and the House that it will receive my most careful consideration in the inquiries I am now carrying out.