§ MR. C. B. HARMSWORTHTo ask the Postmaster-General what provision, if any, is made by his Department for the education of boy telegraph messengers with a view to fitting them for other occupations in the event of their being discharged from the telegraph service under the age limit or from other causes.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) For many years educational classes under competent teachers have been placed within the reach of telegraph messengers at important towns. These classes were established in connection with the institutes, or clubs, maintained partly by a Treasury grant, partly by the contributions of the boys, and partly by the voluntary labour of the staff, to provide for the physical and mental culture and the reasonable amusement of the boys. There are ninety-nine such institutes at work. At some towns it has been found advantageous to the boys to hand over the purely educational work to the local authority. In such cases the boys are assisted as far as necessary in paying the usual fees. The subject is a large one; and if the hon. Member desires more detailed information I shall be happy to give it him.