§ Mr. GILLETTasked the Postmaster-General whether it is possible to estimate the approximate number of men and women telegraphists who will be necessary to the maintenance of the telegraph service in five years' time; and, if so, whether he will state the estimated figures for the Central Telegraph Office, London, and the provinces separately?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe number of telegraphists required is contingent upon the amount of telegraph traffic. The traffic has decreased considerably during recent years, and it is not possible to say to what extent the decline will continue. In the circumstances I regret that it is impracticable to furnish any useful estimate of the number of staff likely to be employed at the end of the next five years.