§ MR. CAWLEY (Lancashire, Prestwich)To ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that certain men employed in the 1515 engineering department of the Post Office, and stationed in the North-Western district, have had their wages reduced to twenty-three shillings per week through no fault of their own; and will he consider the advisability of fixing a minimum wage of twenty-five shillings per week for all adult employees of the engineering department of the postal telegraphs.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) The men to whom the hon. Member refers were engaged as wiremen for a particular work, and that work being finished their engagement terminated. Rather, however, than send the men away the superintending engineer found some labourers work for them, and they are being paid the proper rate for such work. I am not prepared to fix a minimum rate of twenty-five shillings.