§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, it 682 he will say how many telegraphists in the cable-room, Central Telegraph Office, are now at the £160 maximum, and how many have been at that maximum for four years and upwards; I to what extent supervising and senior duties in that branch are, owing to the withholding of the proper appointments, continually delegated to officers of a lower grade; and whether, in view of the admission of the Postmaster General in August 1899, in reply to a memorial that the position of affairs was far from satisfactory, he will say what steps will be taken to provide the remedy asked for.
(Answer.) There are sixty-four telegraphists now in the cable-room receiving £160 a year, the maximum of their scale, and of these forty-three have been at the maximum for four years and upwards. With regard to the question of temporary delegation of senior duties to junior officers, and the provision of additional superior appointments, the Postmaster General would refer the hon. Member to the answer given in reply to his question in the House on the 15th April last.† (Post Office.)