§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)To ask the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the Postmaster-General stated on May 17th, 1895), that the maximum of telegraphists before 1881 was £160 a year but was now £190, he will state the number of operators in the London central office who are in receipt of £160 per annum and the number of years the senior man has been in receipt of this salary; and whether, as the official witnesses before the Bradford Committee stated the salary was now £160 per annum, the Postmaster-General will state the reasons which led the Department to reduce the maximum salary of £190 per annum being paid in 1895 to £160 now being paid, without hope of increase.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) My predecessor stated on May 17th, 1895), that the maximum of the class of senior telegraphists had been raised since 1881 from £160 to £190. The maximum of this class, now called the class of overseers and senior telegraphists, still remains at the same figure. Since 1895 the first and second classes of telegraphists have been amalgamated, but, the maximum—£160 a year—remains unchanged. There are 326 officers at present in receipt of a salary of £160. The senior of these has been at his maximum since July, 1892 He has no practical knowledge of telegraphy, and is not qualified for promotion.