§ MR. NEVILLE (Liverpool, Exchange)I beg to ask the Postmaster General when his promise of increase of salary to the second class telegraphists, given in July last, is to come into operation in Liverpool; whether such clerks in Liverpool have been ordered to refund payments made to them on the faith of such promise; and whether the increment has already been granted to clerks in some towns; and, if so, why these towns are preferred to Liverpool?
§ *MR. RAIKESI am not aware of such a promise as that alluded to by the hon. Member. In July last I promulgated the scheme sanctioned by the Treasury, which changed the annual increment of second class male telegraphists throughout the Post Office Service from 1s. 6d. to 2s. a week. In order to do this it was necessary to fix a common date from which the new scale giving the new increment should commence, and to adjust the sums payable under the old system up to that date. I believe that in some few instances this 1064 rule was not properly observed, with the result that some incorrect payments amounting to a few pence had to be adjusted. I am not aware that the course indicated in the last part of the question has been adopted in any instance. The method of adjustment followed at Liverpool was adopted in every case in the application of the improved scales, and was in accordance with the Treasury Rules on the subject.