§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the discharge of a number of workmen by the National Telephone Company in the Stoke-on-Trent district; whether his pledge that the workmen should not suffer through the transfer of the telephone system from the company to the Post Office is still the policy of his Department; and, if so, will he indicate to the company that wholesale discharges so near the actual date of transfer are not in accordance with his declared intention?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI understand that the men referred to in the question were not part of the regular staff of the 181 company, but labourers engaged temporarily for a special work. Their discharge is in no way due to the approaching transfer of the telephone system to the State.