§ Mr. GILLasked the Postmaster General if he would state the number of telegraph messengers employed in the London service in the years 1897 to 1910, respectively; and the number of lads who left the service on reaching the age limit, for whom no other employment could be found in the Post Office, in each year?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe figures asked for are not available for the earlier years; for the years since 1906 they are as follows:—
Year ended 31st March. Number of Boy-messengers employed in London. Number of those who left at 16 years of age for whom no other employment could be found in the Post Office. 1907 3.970 692 1908 3,861 743 1909 3,945 921 1910 3,841 1.000 The effects of the arrangements for filling half the vacancies for postmen and porters by ex-soldiers and ex-sailors and for discharging the Boy Messengers for whom no employment can be found in the Post Office at the age of sixteen were not fully felt in London prior to the year 1907. The number of Boy Messengers retained at the age of sixteen has been the same in each of the four years included in the table; the gradual increase in the number of boys discharged is attributable to a decrease in the average period of service which renders changes more frequent.