§ Mr. PAGETasked the Postmaster-General, whether since the introduction of females on the telegraph side of the post office at Cambridge, their number has been so increased that they now outnumber the male staff; whether, owing to this in- 33 crease, an assistant superintendentship has been lost to the male staff; whether he is aware that Cambrige is the only telegraph office in the country where fifteen established females are employed without a female supervisor; and whether, seeing that males at this office who have, by five years' service, qualified to receive established appointments are still being retained as assistants, he will make inquiry with a view to an increase of the male staff when vacancies occur?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The number of authorised appointments for women on the telegraph side of the post office establishment at Cambridge is larger than the number of those for men. One assistant superintendentship was given up at the last revision because it was found not to be required. The number and grade of supervising appointments are determined at Cambridge, as elsewhere, by the requirements of the work, and it has been decided that these do not at Cambridge involve the employment of a female supervisor. There are no unestablished officers employed at Cambridge who are entitled to succeed to established posts by virtue of length of service. There are, however, two men who have served for nearly five years; and I propose to consider their case.