§ MR. PARKER (Halifax)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that during the past twelve months the telegraph transactions at Halifax numbered 496,433, while the figures for the twelve months ending September, 1905, were 467,056, and that notwithstanding the increase of work the number of operators have been reduced; whether, as a direct result of the decrease, the delay in telegraphic traffic has increased; and whether he will explain why expert operators are removed from telegraphic duties and forced to perform letter sorting at a time when telegraph work is increasing and the delay accruing is of disadvantage to the business of the town.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) Although there has been an increase in the total number of telegraph transactions at Halifax, the ordinary telegraph work there has decreased. The increase in the total is owing to heavy press work on one or two special occasions, which of course would not effect the determination of the normal force of the office. An officer from headquarters reported to me only this month that generally the telegraph working was Very satisfactory, and I am assured also that there is no undue delay. There certainly has been no increased delay. As I promised the hon. Member on the 26th ult.,† I have had inquiry made as regards sorting work done by certain telegraphists, and I am writing to him on the subject.