§ MR. SCHWANNI beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a number of unestablished linemen who have been employed upon linemen's duties in the engineering department of the Post Office for many years, with a prospect on appointment of going to a maximum of 40s. per week, have now been informed that the maximum has been reduced to 38s. per week; is he aware that this is looked upon as a distinct breach of faith; and can he state how many appointments have been made to the class of senior linemen for the provinces, and what will be the ultimate number of provincial senior linemen.
LORD STANLEYAs already explained in my former Answer to the hon. Member, the maximum pay of the general body of established linemen has been reduced for new entrants concurrently with the introduction of a class of senior linemen on a higher scale. No promise of appointment has been given to the unestablished linemen and there has therefore been no breach of faith. The question of appointing thirty men to the class of senior linemen 622 is now under consideration. This number will ultimately be considerably increased.