§ 35. Mr. PERKINSasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. W. Brisley, who for sixteen years was in the employment of the National Telephone Company, and from 1900 till 1912 was the housekeeper at Telephone House; whether he is aware that by the transfer of the telephone service to the State Mr. Brisley's employ- 1395 ment ceased on 1st March last; and whether, under the circumstances, he is entitled to a pension or to compensation for loss of employment?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe case of Mr. Brisley received full consideration from my predecessor. Mr. Brisley was over seventy years of age at the time of the transfer, and was unfitted, by reason of his age, to supervise the staff of cleaners employed in Telephone House. There was no other work which could be given to him, and he retired from the service in March last. Mr. Brisley was not on the company's pension fund, and as an un-established officer he was not entitled to pension from the Post Office, but he was granted a gratuity on his retirement, in accordance with Section 7 of the Telephone Transfer Act, 1911. This gratuity was necessarily small, as he had performed little more than one year's service in the Post Office.
§ 39. Mr. GOLDMANasked when, approximately, the Postmaster-General proposes to announce the revised scale of telephone rates?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI am giving close attention to the draft scheme for the revision of telephone rates prepared under the instructions of my predecessor and hope to be able to announce the proposed new rates before Easter.