§ 57. Major M'CALMONTasked the Postmaster-General whether the operator in charge of the Post Office telephone exchange at Whiteabbey, county Antrim, is required to maintain a continuous day and night service on a salary of 5s. per week and a house, and without any allowance for an assistant; and, if so, whether such remuneration is in accordance with usual Post Office rates as being sufficient for the hours entailed?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe facts,are as stated. The allowance of free accommodation and a payment of 5s. a week is the remuneration which was given by the National Telephone Company before the transfer of their undertaking to the State, and I have not thought it necessary to alter the arrangement at the present time. Representations on behalf of operators of this class have been made to the Select Committee on Post Office Servants, whose Report is expected to be issued shortly.
§ Major M'CALMONTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he considers the salary adequate for a girl who has to be there during the whole twenty-four hours of the day, and who gets no holidays or any allowance for the payment of an assistant?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe matter is now before the Select Committee. The remuneration does not consist wholly of the pay. It consists also partly of the value of the accommodation provided, which is free. The work, probably, is very slight.
§ Major M'CALMONTIt is not a question of the amount of work. It is a question of not being free, and not being able to go away without providing a substitute.
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELFrequently the members of a family can do this work.