§ MR. ESSLEMONT (Aberdeen, E.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether, when a Bank Holiday falls during a telegraphist's annual leave, the usual practice is as follows: "If the day on which an officer should in ordinary course begin his annual leave happens to be a public holiday in the department, the officer's leave is reckoned to begin on the following day; if the day on which an officer's annual leave expires happens to be a public holiday in the Department, the officer is not required to resume duty till the day after the public holiday;" whether this course is adopted at all Provincial and London district offices, but not at the Central Telegraph Office; and whether he will recommend that the same privilege be extended to the clerks of the Central Telegraph Office, who at the present time have not participated in this extension of leave?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONThe rule is as stated in the question. The Controller of the Central Telegraph Office was so informed on the 1st December 27 last, and the rule will be in operation during the current and future years.