§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that there are clerks employed at the Central Telegraph Office with over 11 years' good service on the permanent establishment in receipt of 34s. per week; can he explain why, notwithstanding that the position held by these clerks has been defined as "senior in their class," a number of others have been promoted from the temporary staff to the second class of the permanent establishment on salaries in advance of those enjoyed by permanent establishment clerks with equal service, and also higher than those received by the senior telegraphists referred to; and can he hold out any hope that a searching inquiry will take place into the present condition of things in the second class?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. A. MORLEY,) Nottingham, E.The facts are not exactly as stated in the first paragraph. There are some telegraphists with 11 years' service in receipt of £90 and over who are on their way to the maximum of their class—namely, £110. In the second paragraph of the question a comparison is made between the telegraphists in question, who entered the service as learners from the school of instruction, and men who entered the service as highly-skilled telegraphists, with years' previous practical experience, and it is evident, that any such comparison is fallacious. Under these circumstances I cannot admit the necessity for inquiry.