Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Postmaster-General whether men attached to the Royal Engineers are employed on the despatch of public telegrams at the Exeter postal telegraph office; whether some of these soldiers receive no pay from the Post Office, being in receipt of their military allowances only; and whether, in view of his recent assertion that he desires to keep the Post Office as a civilian establishment, he will state what action he intends to take in this matter?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThree such men are employed at the Exeter post office. They form part of a small number of Royal Engineer telegraphists employed at certain post offices for the purpose of training under an arrangement made as long ago as 1877. In addition to their regimental pay, they receive pay out of Post Office funds varying from 6d. to 4s. a day, according to service and ability, together with lodging allowance.