§ MR. SHACKLETON (Lancashire, Clitheroe)To ask the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that in 1903 season substitutes in the Telegraph Office, Bristol, were paid at the rate of 27s. per week for the men and 20s. per week for women, he will explain why for the current season the men are being paid 18s. per week and the women 15s. per week.
(Answered bg Lord Stanley.) At Bristol last year it was necessary to employ 949 several qualified assistants pending a revision of the staff (which has since been authorised), and exceptionally high rates of pay had to be given to secure experienced officers, but the high rates mentioned were not paid in every case. This year, however, no such conditions exist, and the wages paid are sufficient to obtain the services of the few persons temporarily required.