§ CAPTAIN NORTONI beg to ask the Postmaster General if he can state the number of candidates and vacancies for the post of telegraph learner in London in the last open competition, at which the prospect of attaining a salary of £190 per annum was held out to the competitors by the Civil Service Commissioners; and also the number of candidates and vacancies for the post of male learner in London in. the last open competition held in 1902, as well as the number of marks obtained by the highest successful competitor in. each case and the percentage they represent of the aggregate.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe last open competition for the situation of male telegraph learner in London at which the prospect of attaining a salary of £190 per annum was held out to competitors by the Civil Service Commissioners was held on the 21st January, 1890. On that occasion 415 candidates competed for 70 situations. The first successful candidate obtained 927 marks out of 1,000, or 92.7 per cent. 811 The last open competition for male learners was held on the 1st August. 1902, when 88 candidates competed for 75 situations. The first successful candidate obtained 1,604 marks out of 1,900, or 84.42 per cent.