§ MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that certain sorter-telegraphists of the Central Office, London, having passed the tests required for skilled telegraphists, have been informed that they are not required for a full eight hours' duty, and that they are employed from 10 a.m. to noon and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. per diem, and paid 9s. per week for twenty-four hours' work; and will he explain why these men are not employed for a full day.
(Answered by Mr. Austen. Chamberlain.) The hon. Member's Question no doubt relates to certain learners who are em- 1543 ployed at wages of 9s. a week for four hours a day in performing minor duties, and for about four hours in learning. None of these learners give such an attendance as is described in the Question. They are given established appointments as vacancies admit, and, as a matter of fact, all who have passed the necessary standards have been appointed. But it should be clearly understood that the appointment of learners to the establishment must be dependent upon the occurrence of vacancies.