§ 16. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that unqualified telegraph learners in the Central Telegraph Office are being employed for six and eight hours daily on the transcription of telegrams from Morse slip; whether he is aware that such employment precludes these learners from qualifying in manipulative ability, for which purpose they are sent into the instrument galleries; and whether the performance of this work by unqualified learners is in the best interests of the young people concerned and of that of the public service?
§ The POSTMASTER - GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)Only qualified slip writers are employed on the transcription of telegrams from Morse slip, and, normally, no officer spends more than from two to four hours a day on the work. The performance of such work by junior officers is in the interests of the officers themselves, who are thus afforded an opportunity of becoming more proficient in work which is part of the ordinary duty of telegraphists, and as the work is done under special supervision the public service does not suffer.