§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Postmaster-General whether some 30,000 men in the Post Office employment have joined the Colours, a large proportion of them being men with wives and families; whether in their place numbers of young single men have come in through the Labour Exchanges and have thus avoided military or naval service; and whether he will give instructions that the existing order as to taking on men over forty is properly carried out?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEOver 32,000 men in Post Office employment are serving in the Army or Navy, and about 20,800 temporary men have been engaged in their place. The instructions in force are that single men eligible for enlistment are not to be employed if other suitable men are available. I have no reason to suppose that these instructions are not being carried out.