§ 44. Mr. THORNEasked the Postmaster-General what amount of overtime has been worked by the telegraph operators since the introduction of the sixpenny telegram; whether superannuated operators have been recalled to deal with the increased traffic; and whether consideration was given to the effect on the existing staff prior to the introduction of this new telegram rate in view of the extra work involved?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir Ernest Bennett)No exact figures are available of the amount of overtime that has been worked by telegraph operators throughout the country since the introduction of the sixpenny telegram. The amount of overtime worked is being kept as low as possible and some superannuated officers have been re-employed temporarily in the absence of other persons with the 2478 necessary qualifications. Before the new rate came into force, careful consideration was given to the probable effect on the existing staff, and the matter was discussed with the Union of Post Office Workers.