§ 31. Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Postmaster-General whether, in applying the Military Service Act to the telegraph staff, he proposes to dispense with the services of all men who have not attested, so as to compel these men to enter the Army, and of these men only; whether he informed the staff, whilst attestation was still possible, that that was to be his policy; whether, in carrying out this policy, he will have to compel men to join the Army whose family obligations are heavy and whose age is near the military limit, whilst single men will be retained in the telegraph service; and whether in effect this is a method of selecting for military conscription the men who have been most active in the trade union movement?
The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Pike Pease)Recent inquiries have shown that the number of telegraphists in the Post Office is more than sufficient to maintain the home telegraph service and to supply the recruits required for the Royal Engineers, Signal Section. In these circumstances I felt it my duty to release a certain number of telegraphists for general military service. The telegraphists who attested received certain pledges that under the Derby scheme they would be reserved for the Signal Section. The position has been materially altered by the enactment of the Military Service Acts, but it appears to me consistent with the spirit of these pledges that in selecting men for release for general service the unattested men who have not received the pledges should be released before the attested men who have received them. The attested telegraphists will be called up when required for enlistment, as far as possible in the order of the Derby Groups, and, if there is any surplus available for general service, they will be released as far as possible in the same order. There is no 1021 foundation for the suggestion in the last sentence of the hon. Member's question. I saw no reason to presume that the men who had not attested were likely to be the men most active in the Trade Union movement, and the suggestion conveys a reflection on the Trade Union leaders which I believe is not justified.
§ Mr. MACDONALDHas not the right hon. Gentleman received a deputation from the union concerned where this point was raised?
Mr. PIKE PEASEMy right hon. Friend is not here, and it would be better that that question should be addressed to him. The main point is that we consider the attested men should have the advantage.