§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that on Wednesday 25th March telegraphists at the Central Office, London, were compelled to stay on overtime at very short notice owing to the pressure of telegraphic messages on the occasion of the introduction of the Irish Land Bill; and whether he will explain the delay in notification, in view of his desire that the staff should be informed at the earliest moment of any interruption of their normal duties.
§ THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. ATTSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.The hon. Member is right in saying that it is my desire that the telegraph staff should be informed at the earliest possible moment of any interruption of their normal duties, but unfortunately it is not always possible to give long notice. On the occasion in question it was only on the day itself that the 789 advices of press work became so numerous as to show that the provision which had been made would be insufficient, and there was then no alternative but to retain additional force on short notice. I am considering whether it is possible to obtain in advance the names of volunteers for such work on all similar occasions in future.