§ MR. NIELDTo ask the Postmaster-General whether a large number of men, formerly engaged in connection with the constructional work of the Post Office telephones have recently been discharged owing to slackness of work; and whether a substantial reduction has been made in the employees of or connected with the Hampstead Exchange on this ground; and whether this is duo to any falling off of subscribers to this Exchange or generally throughout the telephone service of the northern suburbs.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) In the last two months thirty-two workmen have had to be paid off in the Hampstead district in consequence of the completion 1333 of the main duct work on which they were employed. There is no falling off in the number of subscribers to the Hampstead or other telephone exchanges in the northern suburbs.