§ MR. CALDWELL (Glasgow, St. Rollox)asked the Postmaster General whether it was the case that the duties and responsibilities of assistant superintendents of the second class in London, and those of the officers in the superintending class known as "clerks" in Glasgow, Manchester, and Liverpool, are identical, whereas the officers in London are paid at the rate of £300 per annum, and the salary of the officers in the three provincial offices named is only £190 per annum; whether 1009 these provincial officers are remunerated on the same scale (£140 to £190) as the telegraphists at the London end of a wire; whether telegraphists at Glasgow, Manchester, and Liverpool, who perform exactly the same duties as their London brethren, are paid at the maximum of 50s. a week, a difference of £60 a year; and, whether these differences of pay having now been brought under his notice, he is prepared to take steps to remove them?
§ *MR. RAIKESIn reply to the hon. Member I have to state that the duties and responsibilities of the class designated "Clerks" in the post offices of Glasgow, Manchester, and Liverpool are not identical with those of the class designated as "Assistant Superintendents of the Second Class" in London. The remuneration of the different classes referred to by the hon. Member is correctly stated in his question. The organization of the service, including the pay in London and in the Provinces, was thoroughly examined and settled in 1881, the papers being then laid before Parliament; and there do not appear to be any sufficient grounds for disturbing that arrangement.