§ MR. TUITE (Westmeath, N.)asked the Postmaster General, Whether he can now state if the Estimate of £40,435 for the first class at the Central Telegraph Office for the past financial year was not realized by over £7,000; whether there are over 100 vacancies in that class; and, whether he will consider the desirability of utilizing the whole of the Estimate of £41,252 for the current financial year by at once filling up those vacancies?
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)In reply to the hon. Member, I can but repeat an answer given by me a few days ago that the charge for the salaries of telegraphists of the first class at the Central Telegraph Office in the past financial year will not fall short of the Estimate to the extent of £7,000. There are at present 70 vacancies in the class. As regards the current financial year, I have already stated, in answer to a Question put to me by the hon. Member for East Donegal (Mr. Arthur O'Connor), that promotions will be made in due course; and that the expenditure for salaries of telegraphists at the Central Telegraph Office will, in my belief, approximate very closely to the Estimate.