HC Deb 14 May 1914 vol 62 cc1276-7
33. Mr. FREDERICK WHYTE

asked the Postmaster-General what is the salary of the chief engineer to the Post Office?

The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Hobhouse)

The engineer-in-chief to the Post Office is on a scale of pay rising from £1,000 to £1,200 by annual increments of £50.

Mr. F. WHYTE

Does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate raising the status of the engineering department in view of the greatly increased responsibility of that department under the new telephone administration?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

I have to submit all proposals for increases to the Treasury, and, while I should be very willing in certain cases to raise individual salaries, I am not quite sure whether I should be able to persuade my right hon. Friend in that Department to agree.

Mr. F. WHYTE

Does my right hon. Friend see the importance of attracting the very highest talent to these posts?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

Yes, I do, and I am trying to persuade other people to that effect.

Mr. COURTHOPE

Is there not an immense amount of extra work thrown on the chief of the engineering department since the Report of the Committee on the engineering side?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

I do not think that it is any greater than the increase of work and responsibility which has fallen on other departments of the Post Office in the last five or six years.