§ Sir JOHN BETHELLasked the Postmaster-General if, in view of his statement that he would be sorry if learners not qualified to do public work were put on such work and that the Department would certainly avoid it, he will inquire officially and state whether or not unqualified learners at the Central Telegraph Office are frequently employed in transcribing important public telegrams; if so, will he supply a schedule of the times unqualified learners are engaged in such work; and will he issue instructions that no unqualified learner shall be employed upon public work of this description in future?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI am informed that on occasions of emergency the work of transcribing telegrams has been entrusted to learners, but only to such as494W have passed the school test in this class of work. They have performed it under the immediate personal supervision of the school instructors, and it has been satisfactorily done. The work is of a rudimentary character. The arrangement is of advantage, especially to the learners themselves, and I see no reason for disturbing it. In these circumstances the labour and expense which would be involved in preparing the schedule suggested by the hon. Member would not appear to be justified.