§ SIR FRANCIS EVANS (Southampton)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, whether it has been the practice to send telegraph clerks from the Southampton office to perform special duties at Epsom, Salisbury, Ascot, and Henley when public events require additional telegraphic facilities, and will he explain why they are now excluded from participation in these duties, the telegraph staff being recruited from offices much more distant; and whether the Postmaster-General could restore the privilege to the Southampton clerks, seeing that, as compared with former years, they will suffer pecuniary loss.
§ MR. HANBURYIt is the practice to send telegraphists from the Southampton office for duty in connection with special events. Four telegraphists were so sent to Salisbury for the race mooting held there on the 4th, 5th, and 6th instant, and two to Sandown Park on the 14th and 15th instant. The Southampton telegraphists are in no way excluded from participation in these duties when they can be spared from their own office. At certain times, however, it is found that they cannot be spared.