§ 75. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Postmaster-General, if his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Askew, of Southall (the widow of an inspector in the Telephone Company's service), who was herself in their service as caretaker operator for twenty years; whether, when the Southall exchange was closed in December last, she was dismissed receiving a gratuity after twenty years' service of £3, a further £2 sent in March, 1912, and a final payment of £7 14s. 6d. on the 13th May; and whether this is a sample of the fulfilment of the pledges which he gave to this House on the 19th June, 1911, to take over the whole of the company's staff.
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his previous question on this case on the 1st of July, in which I stated that Mrs. Askew was offered a situation similar 1227 to that which she had occupied at the exchange which was closed, but declined it. I am unable to see that the course that has been followed conflicts with any of my pledges.
78. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked whether any negotiations have taken place with the National Telephone Company since the rising of the Courts for the purpose of effecting an agreement as to a settlement of the claim of the company against the Government?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIn accordance with a suggestion made by the Railway and Canal Commission, the opportunity of the long vacation has been taken to settle with the National Telephone Company the cost of the materials used in the construction of their plant as well as the cost of labour, and the expenditure for the freight of materials and casualty insurance. These were questions of fact about which the differences between the parties were relatively small. Unfortunately all the more contentious parts of the company's claim remain for discussion before the Court.
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELYes, an announcement was made before the Commission, and was reported in the newspapers in the Court proceedings.