§ MR. WALLACE (Edinburgh, E.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether it is the fact that his new Regulations as to the sick pay of telegraphists were not officially announced to the telegraphists in the Edinburgh Office until the 15th July, being more than a month after their announcement elsewhere; and, if so, whether he is willing to state the reason for this; and whether the recent Regulations as to increased pay of telegraphists were announced in Edinburgh a day later than elsewhere; and, if so, will he explain the cause?
§ * THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) Cambridge UniversityThe new Regulations as to sick pay were communicated to surveyors on the 19th of May last, and effect was given to them in Edinburgh from the 1st of June, the date when they came into operation. They were not announced on the 15th of July, and there is no occasion for any official announcement, but I referred to them in this House on the 13th of June. The other Regulations referred to were despatched from London to Edinburgh at the same time as to other towns, but did not arrive in time to be announced on the 14th of July, and so were announced on the 15th. The point is of no importance, and they took effect from the same date in all towns. It is not always possible to insure that all Regulations, even when despatched at the same time, shall be announced simultaneously in every office.