42. Mr. F. HALLasked the Postmaster-General if a new class of assistant engineers has been formed in connection with the telephone service; if, in filling these positions, a large number of second-class engineers have been passed over in favour of men of a lower grade in the service; and, if so, the number of men so passed over, and the reasons for adopting this course?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question on 11th June, of which I will send him a copy. The number of officers affected is sixty-five.
Mr. F. HALLIs it not a fact that the engineers who were excluded were in many cases officers of long standing, whose knowledge would in the ordinary course of events have been advantageous to the telephone system in general?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELA new class of higher qualifications was instituted, and the officers who were excluded, although of many years' service, had not the necessary qualifications for promotion to the new class.