§ MR. MOORE (Armagh, N.)To ask the Postmaster-General whether it has been decided that the Lurgan Post Office is to be placed in Class 5, according to the Hobhouse classification; whether he is aware that as a consequence Lurgan telegraphists will receive as a maximum 40s. per week, whilst the Belfast will receive 56s. per week; whether he has any figures in his possession warranting a difference of 16s. per week in the pay of men of the same grade, owing to the cost of living; and whether he will reconsider his decision.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) Lurgan was in Class 7 of the old classification for sorting clerks and telegraphists and, in accordance with the recommendations of the Select Committee in Paragraph 259, it has been placed in the new Class 5, thus raising the maximum for the male telegraphists by 2s. and of the female telegraphists 1s.