§ MR. BURT (Morpeth)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he will state why supervising duties in the telegraph branch at Newcastle-upon-Tyne are to continue to be performed under the proposed revision by clerks on a scale of £140 rising to £170 per annum, whilst in the local postal branch similar duties are provided for by the appointment of assistant superintendents (second class) on a scale rising from £170 to £200, and in offices already revised by assistant superintendents (second class) on a scale of £200 to £260 per annum; and whether he will take steps for remedying the grievances complained of?
§ *THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) Cambridge UniversityThe hon. Member is not correct in stating that the duties in the one case which he mentions are similar to the duties in the other. There is much difference between them in importance and responsibility, and hence the difference in pay. I have, with the sanction of the Treasury, just revised the entire office at Newcastle, and I am not prepared to alter the decision. I may add that the "clerks" on the telegraph side and on the postal side at Newcastle get precisely the same salaries, namely, £140, by £6, to£170.