§ 26. Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether the retention of a wireless squadron in Mesopotamia meant that men who enlisted for the period of the War were being compulsorily retained in that country and were being employed in the transmission of ordinary commercial traffic; whether he was aware that the Government had decided that all soldiers employed on civilian work must be paid the civilian rate of pay for such work; and whether he would issue instructions that those Post Office telegraphists who were being compulsorily retained in Mesopotamia, and who were to be called upon to handle commercial traffic between London and the East, should be paid the rate of pay proper to civilian wireless operators in the employment of private companies?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiry is being made, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result as soon as I am in a position to do so.
§ 27. Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether Post Office telegraphists who had not had a day's furlough since landing in Mesopotamia in 1916 had been sent to wireless stations to replace Australian operators, many of whom had less than twelve months' service in that country; whether he was aware of the indignation which was felt at this penalisation of men who enlisted from this country; whether he was aware that, although General Regimental Order 1,049, of the 24th September, 1919, laid it down that all men who were called to the Colours prior to 1st July, 1916, were now eligible for demobilisation, the and wireless squadron orders for the week ending 12th October, 1919, stated that the strength of the squadron had now been reduced to the minimum necessary for the maintenance of wireless communication, and that it would be impossible to consider any further cases for demobilisation; and whether he would issue instructions that telegraphists should not be specially selected for victimisation because of the value of their skill?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are being made, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.