§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been called to the fact that from 1881 to 1891 telegraphists with 20 years service were in receipt of a salary based on a scale 1026 rising to £190 per annum; but that in 1902 telegraphists in London with from 20 to 25 years service are receiving £160 per annum, with small chances of attaining any salary beyond this point. And whether, in view of the assurance given by the Postmaster General that the London telegraphists possess the same prospects as their predecessors of reaching the salary of £190 per annum, he can state what steps are contemplated to give effect to this statement.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINAs has been several times explained to the hon. Member, the telegraphists in receipt of a salary of £190 a year were at the periods mentioned, and are now, those holding appointments on the class of senior telegraphists. The prospects of promotion to that class have always depended upon the occurrence of vacancies in it. The actual rate of promotion will, of course, vary from time to time, and the Postmaster General cannot undertake to make it uniform.