§ MR. STUART-WORTLEY (Sheffield, Hallam)I beg to ask the Postmaster 1362 General whether it is a fact that, in the telegraph department of the Sheffield Post Office, a number of telegraphists' duties of eight hours per day have been divided into two periods, covering between them over 10 and 12 hours of the day; whether this arrangement has the effect of saving the department the half—hour given for meal relief on a continuous eight hours' duty, although most of the changes do not admit of meals being obtained at meal times; and whether he intends that these arrangements should continue in force?
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. ARNOLD MOKLEY,) Nottingham, E.It is the fact that, out of a force of 88 telegraphists, 26 instead of 15 as hitherto will have their duties divided into two periods, not, of course, in any case exceeding eight hours in all, but extending over 10 and 12 hours a day. Such an arrangement is indispensable if the force at the disposal of the Department is to be employed to the best advantage, It may lie the case that this arrangement of duties will have the effect in some cases of doing away with the meal relief in the middle of the day. I am giving instructions that it shall not be made with this object alone, but only where it is desirable for the other reasons, which I have already indicated.