§ MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSE (Bristol, E.)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the whole of the telegraph staff at Bristol, including the women operators and male supervisors, have their hours of attendance and periods of casual relief registered by men holding lower official positions; whether, seeing that this duty was performed previously by members of the telegraph department holding the rank of clerk and in view of the protests of the staff against the change, he will explain why the change has been made; and whether he will direct that the practice be discontinued.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) I am aware of the arrangement to which the hon. Member refers, and I do not propose to alter it as I see no reason why the mechanical operation of recording times of arrival and departure should be performed by men of high official position.