§ MR. THORNE (West Ham, S.)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Post Office authorities have advertised in the public press for applicants for certain positions, which, upon investigation, show that women are required to live in London and seaside towns during the summer months, and work in telegraph offices for £1 per week; whether he is aware that at the end of the summer they are to be dismissed and have to look for work at other places; whether he is aware that the wages named are far below the wages paid to women telegraphists in permanent employment; and whether, bearing in mind that casual employment at low wages intensifies the unemployment difficulty, he will discourage the practice.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The object of obtaining temporary assistance is simply to relieve the pressure, which cannot unfortunately be avoided in the summer months, and which is partly due to the natural increase of the work in that district and partly to the absence of a considerable portion of the staff on annual leave, which the Post Office endeavours to give, as far as possible, during the summer months. This pressure cannot be altogether met by permanent additions to the staff without great waste of force and money during the rest of the year. It is met partly by overtime; and it is my desire, as far as possible, to reduce excessive overtime and consequent pressure on the staff. The employment of temporary assistants is one of several expedients designed with that object which have been under consideration. It is only in the small country towns, where living is cheap, that wages of 20s. are offered to women. telegraphists.