§ 74. Mr. JOWETTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that a number of expert clerks serving as temporary clerks in various Army pay offices in the provinces who are thoroughly competent, and are moreover accustomed to the work, including many who have served in the capacity referred to ever since the War began, are wishful to enlist in the Army Pay Corps, but have not been sent up for attestation, although they have repeatedly applied for that purpose, whilst men applying in London, who are less qualified and have had no experience in the work are being freely enlisted in unfair preference; and, if so, will he say what action he proposes to take?
Mr. BAKERIt was at one time found necessary to employ in pay offices a certain number of clerks on a purely temporary footing to cope with arrears, and their enlistment was therefore restricted. Now that the first pressure is over temporary clerks who are recommended for enlistment by the paymasters under whom they serve are accepted so far as there is prospect of their continued employment.