§ Mr. SAMUEL ROBERTSasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the case of a telegraphist employed at the Sheffield office who was unable to return from Cleethorpes after his annual leave owing to the cessation of the train service on 19th August last during the period of the general railway strike; whether he is aware that this man telegraphed to his superintendent at Sheffield explaining his position and requested a day's extra leave which was due to him and received a peremptory refusal, and that on the succeeding day, after ascertaining the uncertainty of reaching Sheffield by train, the telegraphist was compelled to engage a motor ear at a cost of £6 in order to obey the official instruction to resume duty at his appointed time; and whether, in view of the exceptional circumstances, he will consider the advisability of representing the claim for reimbursement to the Treasury?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI am aware of the case. The officer in question was not unable to return from Cleethorpes to Sheffield by train in the ordinary way. A train by which he could have travelled left Cleethorpes several hours after he received instructions to return to duty. Those instructions were necessary on account of the exceptional pressure of telegraph work at the time. The expense incurred was unauthorised, and cannot be refunded.