§ Mr. PARKER (Halifax)To ask the Postmaster-General whether expert male telegraphists of many years experience at Halifax have been compelled to perform sorting duties owing to alleged decline in telegraph work; whether an advertisement appeared in the Post Office-Circular of 14th May, 1907, for three female telegraphists to be attached to the Halifax staff; and, if so, whether the Postmaster-General will explain the reason for compelling male telegraphists to leave their own work for the reason of 171 telegraphic decrease whilst adding to the staff' by the number of three women.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.)I informed the hon. Member in December last of the circumstances which rendered it impracticable to allot a full day's telegraph work to each of the male sorting clerks and telegraphists at Halifax who, before 1896, were employed mainly on telegraph work. Those circumstances remain unchanged. The three additional female sorting clerks and telegraphists are required for working the call wires in connection with trunk telephone circuits, a duty which is never assigned to the male staff', and which does not form part of the ordinary telegraph work of the office.