§ 15. Mr. Hollisasked the Postmaster-General how many members of the Engineering Officers' (Telecommunications) Association are employed by his Department in establishing telephone calls and in the handling of mails.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsNone, Sir.
§ Mr. HollisThis is a very surprising answer. If that is so, for what reason did the right hon. Gentleman in the House the other day, accuse these persons of inculcating
a spirit of indiscipline, in some cases of sabotage"?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsIf the hon. Member will read the OFFICIAL REPORT he will see that I dealt with E.O.T.A. in the first part of what I had to say and then went on to N.A.P.T.O. and, later, to N.A.T.S.O. Those are the splinter unions which bear these peculiar initials. I want to make it quite clear, however, that in what I said last Thursday I was not making any general reflection on the large majority of the Post Office staff, who are working devotedly and loyally in co-operation to improve the efficiency of the service.
§ Mr. MellishWill my right hon. Friend note the similarity between the Conservative and Communist Party in trying to create trouble among the members of recognised trade unions?
§ Mr. SpeakerThis question only asks how many members of the Engineering Officers (Telecommunications) Association are employed on certain duties.
§ Mr. HollisThe words the right hon. Gentleman used were,
There is being encouraged in the Post Office by this political support …"—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 6th July, 1950; Vol. 477, c. 709.]1328 It is quite clear that was a general remark about all these unions.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsYes, but to come to more general details, I would draw the attention of the hon. Member to the circular issued by E.O.T.A. to all its members.
§ Mr. C. S. TaylorOn a point of order. Could we have the full names of these unions?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe whole thing is out of order. This has nothing to do with the original Question, which only asked how many members there were on these duties. A hare was introduced, which we are all hunting.