86. Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that certain members of the unestablished staff in the Central Telegraph Office, who for many years enjoyed annual leave of twenty-one working days, have now been informed that they are to have only eighteen working days' leave; whether he is aware 1568 that the annual leave of these persons was not dealt with by the Holt Committee; whether the recommendation of that Committee to grant eighteen working days' leave to the unestablished staff had reference only to those members of that staff who hitherto had been receiving fourteen days' annual leave; and whether he will direct that the annual leave of twenty-one days shall be maintained to those who have for so long been entitled to it?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe recent Select Committee recommended for unestablished telegraphists in the Central Telegraph Office increases of pay amounting at the maximum to 15s. a week for men and 7s. a week for women. They also recommended that the annual leave of these officers should be twelve days for the first five years of service and eighteen days thereafter. In view of the increase in wages granted, I think it is reasonable that all the officers concerned should accept the amount of leave now proper to their class, including those who have been receiving twenty-one days' annual leave. The recommendation of the Committee contained no such limitation as the hon. Member suggests.
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEYes, I think so.