§ MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he is aware that the telephone operators who were transferred as switching operators from the National Telephone Company, Dublin, to the post office in May, 1897, at the wages of 12s. and 11s. per week, have received but two increments since that time—namely, 1s. per week in 1897 and 1s. per week in 1898; and that, in addition to the work of switching, they have had since their transfer to perform telegraph and other duties; and, seeing that they have been continually informed that their application for increase of wages is under consideration, whether a decision will soon be arrived at.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir; the circumstances are well known to the Postmaster General. The general question of the pay of telephone operators is still under consideration, but it is hoped that a decision may be arrived at shortly.
§ MR. NANNETTICannot this case be dealt with at once?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINIndividual cases will be dealt with as soon as the general scheme has been decided upon.
§ MR. NANNETTIIs it not a fact that although these young ladies, since their transfer to the post office, have had extra work put upon them, their wages have not been increased? I will put another question down about this.