§ Mr. MIDDLETONasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Donegall Square Post Office is too small and in other ways unsuitable for the work of the office; that there is a very heavy strain upon the women staff employed there; that a number of the women of the Belfast telegraph staff have applied for relief from duty at the Donegall Square branch office upon medical and other grounds; whether he will state the amount of sick leave of the staff; and whether he will take steps to secure more suitable premises?
§ Mr. HARTSHORNI am aware of the defects of the Donegall Square Branch Office; and negotiations are now in progress for renting alternative premises. As the branch office is staffed on a system of rotation with the head office, there are no statistics of sickness from which any reliable deductions could be drawn.