§ BARON FERDINAND DE ROTHSCHILD (Bucks,) Aylesburyasked the Postmaster General whether it is a fact that the character of the duties performed by officers of the first class at the Central Telegraph Office and the general body of senior-class telegraphists is precisely similar, in many instances the duties performed by the former being of the greater difficulty; how does he propose to admit the clerks at this office to the full benefit of the "Fawcett Scheme" if those at the maximum of the first class are not to be promoted to the senior class except through vacancies by death, which has already kept them waiting for promotion over two years whether, if the present action of the Department be continued, it will be possible that a vacancy may not occur for years; and, if so, is it his intention to keep the majority of this deserving body of public servants, after 18 years' service, at the salary of £2 13s. 8d. per week for the remainder of their career; and, whether, when the first class becomes full, he intends to apply the same policy to the second class, and so practically limit the highest salary attainable by the clerks to £100 per annum?
§ *MR. RAIKESIt is not the case that the duties of the telegraphists of the first class are precisely similar to those of the senior class. It will always happen in a very large department like the Central Telegraph Office that some officers of a lower class may be performing superior duties. It was no part of the "Fawcett Scheme" that officers in one class should be promoted to the next higher class regardless of vacancies, and I am not in a position to say how long it may take certain officers to rise out of their present classes; but it will be my duty to examine the matter from time to time and to take such measures as appear to be required in the interests of the public and the officers themselves.