§ MR. NORRIS (Tower Hamlets, Limehouse)asked the Postmaster General, If he will state the number of men employed in the Government Electrical Factory at Holloway, and what is the proportion of foreign workmen engaged there; whether the nature of the work is such as can be carried out equally well by capable English workmen, who are continually applying for employment there; and, if the Controller of the Factory is now absent from ill-health, how long he has been so, and, if still in receipt of his full pay?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENEEAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)The number of men employed in the Telegraph Factory at Holloway is 180, of whom 30 are foreigners. The selection of fresh workmen is made solely according to the qualifications and character of the men applying for work; and in the last two years only two new foreigners have been engaged. The Controller of Stores, under whose supervision the Factory is, has, I regret to 550 say, been absent on account of illness for the last 12 months, but has not for the past six months received full pay. I have recently applied to the Treasury to grant him a superannuation allowance.