EARL COMPTON (York, W.R, Barnsley)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether the statement in the Times of to-day is correct as regards an improved scale of pay for telegraphists throughout the United Kingdom; what are the further advantages which, according to the Times, have been accorded to telegraphists in the matter of overtime, Sunday work, Bank holidays, and sick 1738 leave; whether it is a fact that 192 officials have been debarred from participation in any benefits to be accorded to others; and, if so, what is the reason for this punishment?
§ *MR. RAIKESAn improved scale of pay has been granted to telegraphists throughout the United Kingdom. I have not had time to examine the statement in the Times. All overtime, including Sunday work in the provinces, will be paid for at the rate of a time and a quarter. Telegraphists whose services are required on Bank holidays will be remunerated for them by extra pay at the ordinary, not the overtime rate, in any case when a holiday cannot be afforded on some other day. As I have, I think, already stated in this House, no deduction will henceforth be made in pay during sick absence in cases which the Postmaster reports to be of genuine illness. This was notified to the staff some weeks ago. I greatly regret to add that in consequence of a brutal and cowardly assault, committed last Friday by a number of telegraphists, at the Central Office, upon an unoffending person temporarily employed there, I have felt obliged to exclude from participation in these advantages those telegraphists whom there is ground to suspect of complicity in this outrage until they have cleared themselves of any share in it.
§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAM (Lanark, N.W.)Was this unfortunate man who was mobbed severely injured and unable to work in consequence?
§ *MR. RAIKESI do not know the actual extent of the man's injuries, but I do know that the man was mobbed, hustled, jeered at, beaten with a stick, and spat upon.
§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMI wish to know whether the man was so severely injured as to be unable to pursue his business?
§ *MR. RAIKESI do not know the precise nature of the personal injuries received by this man.
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRE (Bradford, Central)What would be the increase in the charge for the Service under the proposals of the right hon. Gentleman?
§ MR. RAIKESI think it would have been better if notice had been given of the question. Speaking generally, I believe that the cost of these additional advantages for telegraphists and sorting 1739 clerks will amount to no less than £200,000 a year.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to throw upon the persons suspected of the mobbing at the Central Office the burden of proving that they were innocent? Is the right hon. Gentleman going to disregard the legal presumption in favour of innocence until guilt is proved?
*EAEL COMPTONI wish to know whether some inquiry will be made into the case? I am informed that it has been greatly exaggerated.
§ *MR. RAIKESThe matter will form the subject of an inquiry. In reply to the hon. and learned Member for Longford (Mr. T. M. Healy), I have to say that it would, in my opinion, be very difficult in a case of this kind to fix the precise amount of culpability incurred by any one if suspected persons are not to come forward to clear themselves.
§ [No answer was given.]