§ Mr. SLOANTo ask the Postmaster General, in view of the fact that the services of a number of substitutes in Belfast Telegraph Department have recently been dispensed with owing to slackness of work, while at the same time assistance required by the engineering branch has been refused owing to alleged pressure of work, whether he will state the qualifications of the clerks drawn from two small provincial offices; and, seeing that they are receiving an allowance of 3s, per diem, will he explain why local assistance was not obtained.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The two officers in question were reported to possess the qualifications necessary for temporary duties in the superintending engineer's office. As regards the latter part of the Question, I must refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of the 27th November last on the same subject, to which I have nothing to add.