§ MR. ROBSON (South Shields)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a female learner has been employed at the North Shields Post Office on telegraph delivery duties since the 20th February, 1903, without any salary whatever; and, if so, will he say whether this is in accordance with the service regulations; and whether he will investigate the circumstances with a view to giving the learner a salary or an appointment.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) There is one female learner at North Shields who is not on the "paid" establishment and who has been in the office since 27th October, 1902; but she has not been without pay all the time, as for forty-nine weeks she has been employed as substitute for other officers, and has received pay varying from 5s. to 10s. a week while so employed. During part of this time it was her duty to place telegrams in envelopes and address them; but she has never been employed in delivering telegrams. How soon this learner may obtain a paid learnership or an established appointment will necessarily depend on the occurrence of a vacancy, and I am unable to give an approximate date.