MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been directed to the revision of 1891, under which the scale of pay of the Dublin male supervising force was raised—namely, the scale previous to 1891 £150 per annum, rising by £8 per annum to £190, and the scale after revision of 1891 £200 per annum, rising by £10 per annum to £250; and, seeing that the former scale was retained for a clerks' class, but that all the members of this class in 1891 were advanced to the latter scale, their duties being identical with those performed by the female supervising force, whose maximum pay is only half that of males, whether the Postmaster General in the coming revision will grant the female supervising staff an increase in scale of pay, with the view of allaying the discontent which has long existed; and will he take steps to have open competitive examinations held in Dublin for at least some of the places by which it is intended to increase the Dublin female staff.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe Postmaster General is aware of the nature of the revision of 1891 under which the scale of pay of the Dublin male supervising force was raised; the female supervising force also obtained an improvement of pay and position at the same time. As was stated in reply to the hon. Member on the 7th instant, the scales for the female supervising force are those proper to their class at offices such as Dublin, and no reason is seen for increasing them. It is not possible to say at present whether any of the vacancies for female sorting clerks and telegraphists caused by the revision will be filled by open competition.