§ MR. MACALEESEI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, why there has been no examination of female telegraph learners since 1895; have several vacancies occurred since the last examination, and have those vacancies been filled up in accordance with the rules of the Civil Service; and will an examination for female telegraph learners be ordered for an early date?
§ MR. HANBURYI presume the hon. Member refers to Dublin. There has been no competition there for female telegraph learners since December 1895, because the number of candidates then taken has proved sufficient for all vacancies up to the present time. The competitions are held in anticipation of vacancies, and the number of vacancies likely to occur during the six months after December 1895 was unfortunately over-estimated. There have been 17 vacancies since December 1895; 14 have been filled by the appointment of learners, 2 by transfer, and 1 by the appointment of a skilled telegraphist. These were all in accordance with the rules of the Civil Service. Although there are no vacancies at present, another competition will probably be held in the course of the next few months.