§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he will state what is the usual time that second class clerks are employed in performing temporary first class duties at the Central Telegraph Office in order to qualify for promotion to the higher class; whether this period is of the same duration in every case; and, if not, what are the causes of its extension or diminution; whether, when clerks are employed on duties proper to a higher class, there is any definite intention of promoting them at a certain date; whether the duties in the Central Telegraph Office are assigned to first or second class clerks in accordance with their abilities, without reference to their salary, service, or class position, and whether many of the most important wires thereby are frequently in charge of second class clerks in preference to clerks of a higher class; and whether he can see his way clear to reconsider his refusal to re-open the question of the organisation of the staff, which has been recently communicated to the officers of the second class?
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONI must refer the hon. Member to my answer to a question almost identical put by the 756 hon. Member for South Down last Monday. To the third paragraph, which is new, I would say no.