§ MR. H. D. GREENE (Shrewsbury)To ask the Postmaster-General if he will state whether a telegraphist who has been transferred as such from an amalgamated office and subsequently acquires postal qualifications, is entitled to a double increment for dual qualifications, or whether the rules regulating double increments for dual qualifications only apply when a servant possessing postal qualifications subsequently acquires telegraphic qualifications.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) An officer originally appointed to an amalgamated office bears the designation, of sorting clerk and telegraphist, and as such is by the terms of his appointment liable to be employed on both postal and telegraph duties at any office to which he may be attached. Under ordinary circumstances such an officer is not entitled on transfer to the double increment for dual qualifications which is granted to officers who were originally appointed as sorter, sorting clerk, or telegraphist, and were not liable to perform both postal and telegraph duties.