§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that sappers in the Royal Engineers signal sections, most of whom were formerly telegraphists in the Government service, are being employed on civil telegraph duties in the post offices at Colchester and Shrewsbury; whether these men have received the full military training proper to their companies in the Royal Engineers; and whether there has been any displacement of labour in consequence of this innovation.
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI am aware of the facts quoted. The sappers are Post Office telegraphists serving in the Royal Engineers for the period of the War. They receive full Post Office pay in addition to regimental pay and engineer pay. They are being employed on civil telegraph work, with the concurrence of the War Office, until they are required for active service, and their assistance is valuable to the Post Office which has supplied about 4,000 telegraphists for service in the Army and Navy. The services of two temporary female assistants at Shrewsbury were dispensed with for a few weeks, but employment is now being found for these assistants.