§ 42. Mr. KINGasked the Postmaster-General whether two appointments have been made recently at Colchester of young women as probationer telegraph learners, and that one case was that of a near relative of a Post Office official at Colchester; whether these cases relieve the young women in question of the usual competitive examination required for entrance to the telegraph service; and whether he will give instructions that in future only those entering through the usual competitive methods will be admitted to the Colchester office as telegraph learners?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)I presume that the hon.. Member's question refers to two girl probationers who have been employed at Colchester since November, 1911. These girls are not engaged in learning telegraphy, but perform indoor messenger duties. They are both related to members of the staff at Colchester. Girl probationers cannot become telegraph 2207 learners without passing a competitive examination. They may, however, become telephonists on passing the usual qualifying tests for admission to that class.