§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.), on behalf of the honourable Member for Cork [Mr. J. F. X. O'Brien]: I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that there are five female telegraphists in the Cork telegraph office, employed in a temporary capacity for five years and over, who have obtained Civil Service certificates, passed the medical examination, and have served as acting telegraphists; will he explain why, although vacancies have recently occurred, these females have not been placed on the establishment, owing to transfers from outside stations; and, in view of the undertaking given by former Postmasters General that the interests of local officers would not be interfered with by transferees, whether steps will be taken to have the present female temporary staff placed on the establishment before any further transfers are sanctioned?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonThere appears to be only one female telegraphist who has been temporarily employed for five years, although there are five others who have been employed for about four years. There has been only one recent transfer, on the female side, to the Cork office, and even that case was really one of exchange. A Cork telegraphist applied for transfer to Mallow, and by sending to Cork the officer intended for the Mallow vacancy it was possible to meet her wish. The officer who had been selected for Mallow had lost her former situation through a revision, and it was necessary to find another place for her. The Postmaster General does not recall the undertaking 148 said to have been given by his predecessors. All Postmasters General have reserved to themselves the right to transfer officers when they deemed it necessary or expedient to do so.