§ MR. THOMAS BAYLEY (Derbyshire, Chesterfield)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, in view of the issue of a recent circular by the telegraph authorities admitting the inefficiency of the operators in the Central Office, London, who are attached to the Metropolitan Gallery, the Postmaster General will take steps to award compensation to the senders of telegrams who suffer pecuniary loss as a result of errors and delays caused through the incompetency of the male and female clerks in this gallery.
§ MR. THOMAS BAYLEYTo ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that Post Office representatives before the Tweedmouth Committee stated that telegraphists could be trained in three months, and have else where stated that telegraphy needs no more skill than tpyewriting; and whether, in view of these facts, the Postmaster General will explain why it is necessary to issue a circular stating that some years must elapse before the male and female staff of the Metropolitan Gallery will be efficient.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain). Perhaps it will be convenient to answer the two Questions of the hon. Member together. In the circular to which he calls attention there was no admission of inefficiency, but a reminder of a fact which has had to be brought to the 776 notice of the staff from the earliest days of telegraphy, namely, that telegraphists are not all able to send and receive telegrams at the same rate; and that therefore discretion must be exercised with a view to harmonious working between the two ends of a wire; the Postmaster General is not aware of any statements made before the Tweedmouth Committee, or elsewhere, which conflict with this view. As to compensation, it is notified on the telegram forms that the Postmaster General is not liable for loss or damage arising out of mistakes or default in the transmission of telegrams.