§ MR. STEADMANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that, although the staff of the Central Telegraph Office spend £25,000 annually in the refreshment branch, the executive officers of the branch—namely, the president, manager, and the secretary—are appointed by the Department without reference to the staff; also that the manager buys all provisions and pays all bills without referring the details of such transactions to the staff's representatives; whether he would consider the advisability of providing a more representative system of management to encourage the staff to endure the present discomforts whilst awaiting the proposed improvements; and whether, in view of the dissatisfaction which exists, he will conduct a personal inquiry into the whole matter?
§ MR. HANBURYSince 1890, when the Department took over the control of the refreshment branch of the Central Telegraph Office, the president, the manager, and the secretary have been appointed by the Department, the two latter being also paid by the Department. The manager orders all supplies of food, but the bills are paid by the treasurer. The accounts are duly audited and submitted to the committee for approval. The committee consists of 12 members, four (including the president, manager, secretary, and one other) nominated by the Department and eight elected by the staff, who thus have a greater preponderance than exists in other similar cases. Under these circumstances it is not considered that a more representative system of management is needed. The standing Departmental committee on refreshment arrangements has been instructed to require into the whole matter and to report what changes, if any, can be adopted to improve the arrangements temporarily.