§ MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he will explain why two female learners, who entered the Cork Post Office in September, 1898, who have qualified in every respect, and have been employed as acting telegraphists for the past four years, are now classified and paid as learners; and why, seeing that these girls had risen from an initial wage of 5s. per week in 1898, to 16s. 6d. in 1904, this amount has been reduced to 10s. per week since 18th January, 1904.
LORD STANLEYIn consequence of a falling-off in telegraph work at Cork, it was found necessary to discontinue the full time duty of these two learners, but it has now been found possible again to give them full time duties.