§ Mr. MARTINasked the Postmaster-General, with reference to the proposed 691 transference of accounts work, in connection with the intelligence duty in the Central Telegraph Office, to another department where the work will be performed exclusively by females, whether he is aware that a large amount of work credited to the telegraph traffic section, consisting of advices to other towns not subordinate to the central office, and relating to the receipt and despatch of Press news, is now performed by the Central Telegraph Office; and whether he will state in what respect economy would not be effected by the transference of the whole of the work of the telegraph traffic section to the Central Telegraph Office?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The Central Telegraph Office is primarily charged with the work of sending and receiving the telegrams which pass to and from and through London. To assign to that office the duty of managing telegraph traffic in all the provincial centres would be inconsistent with the system upon which the Post Office is administered, and would lead to imperfect organisation, friction and expense.
§ Mr. MARTINasked whether the Controller of the Central Telegraph Office now states in an answer to the London branch of the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association, that the method of promotion at that office had been fully discussed with a representative of the staff; and, in view of the face that it has been stated that no representations of a nature which could possibly be regarded as complying with the regulations, were made to the Controller on this subject, whether the Postmaster-General will state if it is a necessary part of the regulations regarding the submission of grievances to local officials that such matters should be submitted and answered in writing before they can be considered to be properly represented; and, if so, whether he will issue instructions to that effect?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELAs indicated in my reply to the hon. Member's question of the 13th of June the conversation which took place between the Controller of the Central Telegraph Office and a member of the staff could not be regarded as in any sense a representation or appeal under the regulations for the submission of memorials. The answer stated to have been given by the controller is not correctly quoted. It is desirable that representations from branches of associations which 692 precede representations from the central body should be submitted and answered in writing, and I propose to issue instructions to this effect.