§ MR. O'GRADY (Leeds, E.)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that telegraphs learners at Bristol, after waiting three years for appointment, have now been asked if they are prepared to leave that office in order to secure positions upon the establishment; and whether, seeing that a competitive examination is announced to be held at Bristol in July, 1907, for the post of 659 telegraph learners, he will state the reason for his decision to add to the staff of learners, in view of the fact that he cannot find vacancies for those already placed in the Bristol office.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) Certain telegraph learners at Bristol, whose promotion to the establishment at that office has been delayed longer than was anticipated, by reason of an unexpected dearth of vacancies, have been offered opportunities of early promotion elsewhere, but, with one exception, have preferred, to wait their turn at Bristol. The learnerships to be filled by examination in July will supply officers for appointment to the establishment, not now but some two years hence, and not affect the prospects of the existing learners.