Mr. BOWER MANasked the Postmaster-General whether there is any difference in the work performed by the counter clerks and telegraphists at the Grafton Street sub-post office and that of the corresponding class in the neighbouring branch office; whether he will state the mean cost of a male counter clerk and telegraphist at the 1478W Oxford Street branch office, a female counter clerk and telegraphist at the Regent Street branch office, and that of a salaried sub-office assistant at the Grafton Street sub-office; and whether the scales of pay at the Grafton Street office are in direct accordance with any recommendations of the Hobhouse Committee?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThere is no essential difference between the work performed by the counter staff at the Grafton Street sub-office and that performed by the similar staff at the neighbouring branch offices. The mean pay of a male counter clerk and telegraphist at the Oxford Street branch office is 44s., and the mean pay of a female counter clerk and telegraphist at the Regent Street branch office is 32s. a week. These are established officers. The staff employed at the Grafton Street office (which will eventually be abolished) is not established, but is composed of assistants. The wages paid (with the exception of the wages of the officer in charge, who received 38s. a week) are the wages usually paid to assistants employed by sub-postmasters on such work. The Parliamentary Committee did not deal with assistants employed by sub-postmasters.