HC Deb 24 July 1923 vol 167 c219
63. Mr. SPOOR

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that under the contract between the Post Office and the Press Association, whereby the latter body are licensed to work and maintain telegraph wires and apparatus, telegraphists employed are paid much lower wages than the telegraphists in the Post Office or employed by the ordinary Press in doing similar work; whether the contract in question contains the Fair Wage Clause; and, if not, will he state the reason why?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

The Press Association are not contractors to the Post Office, but merely hold a licence empowering them to rent private telegraph wires for the purpose of distributing news to the Provincial Press. I have no control over the wages paid to their skilled telegraphists, but I am informed they are not below the agreed trade rates.