MR. CREMRR (Shoreditch, Haggerston)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether in the telegraphic and postal service the boys' brigades were, upon their formation, provided with imitation guns; whether they are now armed with real guns; and, if so, 376 whether the Board of Education or the War Office supplies the guns and pays the drill sergeant for his services; how many hours per week the boys are engaged in military drill; and whether they receive any extra pay for the time they are so engaged.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.The telegraph messengers attached to the larger post offices are regularly trained in simple drill and physical exercises, but they are not formed into Brigades. It does not appear that imitation guns have ever been used in this training. The older boys carry disused carbines, of which the strikers have been removed, lent by the War Office. The younger boys use sticks when performing physical exercises. As a rule, the instruction is given by the Post Office Inspectors of Messengers, or other Post Office servants. Occasionally, Military Instructors are employed, but they are paid by the Post Office. Each boy is drilled for an hour once a week, or at rather longer intervals, during the drill season, from the 1st of March to the 30th of November. The boys are paid for the time occupied by their attendance at drill.