§ 72. Mr. JOWETTasked the Postmaster- General if his Department gave a positive promise to Mrs. Robinson, of 18, Pembury Road, Westcliffe-on-Sea, in September last, that a telephone, for which a contract was signed on the 12th of that month, would be ready for use at Coventry House, Hadleigh Road, Leigh-on-Sea, by the end of September; if he is aware that Mrs. Robinson, relying on this promise, prepared and staffed the house in question as a branch nursing home, a purpose for which it was entirely useless without a telephone; that on 1st October, after having repeatedly appealed to the officials of his Department 1371 and receiving only evasive replies, the local manager informed Mrs. Robinson for the first time that he had then known for two weeks there would be difficulty with the Leigh Council about wayleaves; whether he is aware that if his Department had informed Mrs. Robinson at once of this she would have been spared the loss she has sustained in renting and furnishing premises which were entirely useless for her purpose without a telephone and which she has to abandon for that reason; and whether he intends to make any allowance to Mrs. Robinson for the loss she has suffered through the action of his Department?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELWhen Mrs. Robinson signed the contract for a telephone service there was no reason to suppose that anything would occur to hinder the completion of the engineering work, but I am assured that no definite promise was given that the service would be installed by the end of September. As the hon. Member is aware, the delay which occurred was due to causes beyond my control. I regret that Mrs. Robinson should have sustained loss and inconvenience in consequence of the delay, but there is no fund at my disposal out of which any compensation could be paid to her. The circuit was completed and handed over on the 7th instant.
§ 79. Mr. CLYNESasked with reference to the low wages and bad working conditions of night telephone operators, whether, in the event of their terms of service not being improved early by the action of any Inquiry Committee, the Postmaster-General can assure higher rates of pay to men, many of whom are now employed fifty-four hours for 20s. per week?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe Select Committee on Post Office Servants has not yet heard the night telephone operators, and I cannot anticipate any recommendations it may make.
§ Mr. CLYNESWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the fact that in this branch of the public service, men are being paid only 20s, for fifty-four hours work, and does he not think in view of those facts that he ought to act without waiting further the finding of the Committee?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe matter has already had my attention on many occasions, but in view of the fact that the 1372 Select Committee is now sitting, I am afraid it would be useless to approach the Treasury.
§ Mr. CLYNESIf the Select Committee report in favour of the men, can the right hon. Gentleman assure me that effect will be given to the recommendation as from the time when the representations were made?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo; I cannot say that the recommendation would take effect retrospectively.