§ Mr. JAMES PARKERasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the staff at the Portsmouth dockyard branch office is now drawn from the postal side; whether this decision was in consequence of a request for regulation meal reliefs from the telegraphists who formerly staffed this office; whether there is almost continuous overtime performed on the postal side, as against a negligible amount on the telegraph side; and whether, in view of the fact that a large number of telegrams almost exclusively of a naval character, pass through this office, he will again consider the advisability of employing a staff of telegraph men at this important branch office?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELA protest from the sorting clerks and telegraphists as to meal reliefs gave rise to inquiry as to the arrangements for staffing the office in question, and on grounds of administrative convenience, it is found desirable to man it from the postal side. The postal work is, moreover, of greater importance than the telegraph work, which is decreasing. I cannot reverse my decision. The overtime on the postal side at the head office has been abnormal mainly in consequence of the existence of a number of vacancies.