§ Mr. BARNESasked the Postmaster-General the reason for declining to receive representations from the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association on behalf of some of their members ranked in the Post Office as female clerical assistants, and formerly employed by the Glasgow Corporation telephone service; and whether he is aware that the Parliamentary Select Committee now sitting raised no objection to receiving evidence from the association on behalf of these officers?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe duties and interest of the clerical assistants are widely different from those of the officers whom the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association represents, and I consider it undesirable on general grounds to discuss with a body which is composed almost entirely of the manipulative classes questions which relate to clerical classes. It is open to the clerical assistants to form a separate association if they so desire; and it is very necessary that the recognised associations should be able to speak with full knowledge of the conditions of the classes they represent. I am aware that the Select Committee on Post Office Servants received evidence from a representative of the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association on behalf of female clerical assistants, but different considerations arise in the day by day administration of the Department.