§ 30. Mr. John Hallasked the Post Master-General what is the present 158W shortage of postmen and sorters, respectively, in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterSorting is performed by both postmen and postmen higher grade. There is, in general, no shortage on the latter grade, which we fill from postmen. Recruitment of postmen is local and the position varies from town to town. Recruitment is difficult in London and parts of the Midlands and Home Counties, where there is a general shortage of labour. In London, the positions is a little better than it has been; we are now about 1,170 short on an establishment of some 20,000, as compared with about 1,550 in October last.