Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Postmaster-General if he has given instructions that persons may be trained to act as season assistants and as full-time assistants at salaried sub-offices; whether post- 1350W masters have been informed that no wages must be paid to those persons, however efficient they may be, until they are actually appointed as assistants; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that this is a direct encouragement of cheap labour, he can see his way to withdraw the instructions?
§ Mr. SYDNEY BUXTONI have recently authorised the trial of a scheme for training persons to act as assistants in order to relieve the season pressure. There is great difficulty at present in obtaining a sufficient number of persons for such relief and to prevent overtime. The persons in question will receive facilities for learning, and as soon as they do any useful work they will receive payment, and when they are qualified and employed the usual rates will be paid. I am inquiring whether the wording of the instructions to the postmasters has given rise to any misunderstanding in regard to the matter. There is no question of encouraging the use of cheap labour in the scheme.