§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.)To ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the departmental witnesses informed the Select Committee of this House that the proportion of female to male staff was not more than one in three at the smaller offices; and can he say why this proportion is greatly exceeded at many offices and the male staff compelled to perform such an amount of night and split duties as will prove prejudicial to their health.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) There has evidently been some misapprehension in regard to this matter. The answer given before the Select Committee did not imply that the proportion of female to male staff at any particular office should not exceed one in three. The number of women to be employed at any given office must depend on the special circumstances in each case. The statement that the female staff generally is not more than one in three is only roughly correct. In March, 1906, there were in the provinces 13,433 male sorting clerks and telegraphists as against 5,000 females.