§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORTo ask the Postmaster-General whether he has received a petition from the women telegraphists at Brighton with reference to promotions; and whether, seeing that women telegraphists at that town have been engaged at St. James Street branch office and similar offices, he will explain why the promotion has been given to a clerk from Beckenham, passing over the women telegraphists at Brighton, in view of the fact that no complaint has been made of the manner in which they per formed their duties.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The petition from the women telegraphists at Brighton was duly considered by me before the promotion in question was made, but I was unable to meet their wishes. The officer promoted had special qualifications for the vacant post, and her transfer to Brighton was made in the public interest.