§ MR. BOTTOMLEYTo ask the Postmaster-General whether, having regard to the fact that the members of the Post Office Writers' Association belong to the general class of sorters, he is aware that this association consists not only of sorters but of officers of the overseers', sorters', and telegraphists' classes, whose transfer to the clerical establishment was recommended in paragraph 107 of the Report of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants; whether, when describing them as temporarily employed on writing duties, he was aware that many of these men have been so employed continously for periods varying from ten to twenty years; and 2313 whether he will explain in what circumstances he declines to put these men on the same footing as regards official recognition as postmen in London, seeing that he has already officially recognised two distinct organisations representing the latter body.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I am aware of the constitution of the Post Office Writers' Association, and of the fact that many of the members have been employed on writing duties for considerable periods. The employment is, however, not permanent, and the officers may at any time be removed from the writing duties and be required to take up the ordinary duties of their class. There are considerable differences between this case and that of the London postmen. But, in so far as the latter is a precedent, it is not one which I should propose to follow in future.