§ MR. WOODS (Essex, Walthamstow)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General,. whether he will state how many male temporary clerks and substitutes are now employed in the Central Telegraph Office,. London, and what proportion they bear 423 to the male operating staff; whether he will state what is the average wage of temporary telegraphists and the average wage of season substitutes in this office, and the number of temporary clerks and season substitutes employed continuously for twelve months and upwards; and whether he will direct that all temporary telegraphists and season substitutes who have performed twelve months' service and upwards shall be placed on the permanent establishment.
§ MR. HANBURYThe number of male temporary telegraphists at the Central Telegraph Office is thirty-six, and the number of male substitutes is twenty-one. They boar the proportion of 1.7 and TO per cent., respectively, to the total established male operating staff. The average weekly wages of the temporary men is 36s. a week, and of the substitutes 22s. 9d. a week. All the thirty-six temporary men and fourteen of the substitutes have been employed continuously for over twelve months. As many as are eligible are invited to compete for appointments on the permanent establishment, but in most eases the men are ineligible.