§ Mr. CASSELasked the Postmaster-General what arrangements have been made with regard to the housekeeping staff at Telephone House, Temple Avenue, since the undertaking of the National Telephone Company was taken over by the Post Office; whether any of the members of such staff have had their wages reduced and been deprived of board to which they were previously entitled, or dismissed 1826W without compensation; and, if so, whether, in view of the statement that no employé of the company should be in a worse position by reason of the transfer, he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe National Telephone Company employed at Telephone House a male resident housekeeper, a head waitress and cook, a cook, a "waitress and cook," and a "waitress and kitchen maid," whose services in those capacities will not be required in the Post Office. One waitress left in May last, and as the resident housekeeper is seventy-two years old, and no other work can be found for him, it has been necessary to give notice of termination of his services. Endeavour is being made to provide the other persons referred to with suitable work. In the meantime they are being employed upon such work has can be found for them at Telephone House at the wages they received at the time of the transfer. For some time after the transfer these persons were employed by the liquidator of the company, who increased the wages of three of them in respect of extra work ho allotted to them. This extra work has now ceased and the extra pay with it. None of these persons has made any reference to board received under the company, and I am making further inquiry into that matter.