§ MR. SOARESTo ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in 1899 an arrangement was entered into at Exeter between the Department and the staff with reference to annual leave, and that the staff made certain sacrifices, and in consideration thereof the Department agreed to send a certain number of the staff on holidays throughout the season of annual leave; and, seeing that the holidays for 1905 have been altered by the Department without reference to the staff, whether the Postmaster-General will slate the reasons for the Department departing from its part of the compromise of 1899.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) In 1899 the Department arranged that the Exeter telegraph staff should receive the greater portion of its annual leave in the eight better months of the year, and this arrangement is still in force. Owing to pressure of work in the summer it cannot be arranged for the same number to be away in July, August, and September as in the remaining five months of this period.