§ Mr. G. ROBERTSasked the Postmaster-General if he will state the circumstances in which Miss Rance, assistant supervisor, Class II, London Telephone Service, resigned her appointment while in the employ of the late National Telephone Company, and the length of the period between her resignation and subsequent re-engagement; whether it is a fact that two years after the transfer of the National Telephone Company to the State she was promoted, and subsequently placed in the position on the seniority list she would have occupied had her service been continuous; and whether, seeing that this is contrary to Regulations and unfair to those who entered the service before this lady commenced her second period of service, he will secure that her seniority is dated in accordance with these facts?
§ Mr. PEASEIt is understood that Miss Rance resigned her position as telephonist at Ipswich in the service of the National Telephone Company on the 28th 1367W of October, 1910, as a result of a dispute with the clerk in charge. She was reengaged by the company in London on the 3rd of March, 1911, and was promoted to her present position of assistant supervisor, Class II, on the 12th of June, 1914. It is clear from the records that it was the intention of the company that the break in Miss Rance's service should not affect her pay or prospects, and the break has, therefore, been ignored in fixing her seniority in the Post Office.