§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that all unorganised classes in the Post Office are 1333W badly paid; whether he has refused to recognise the Postal and Telegraph Clerks' Association as the trade union representing caretaker operators; whether there is any other union which caters foe this type of labour; whether it would be in the interests of the Post Office to make it less difficult for the poorly-paid classes to be reorganised in order that a low-wage standard may not be perpetuated; and whether a large number of caretaker operators having joined the Postal and Telegraph Clerks' Association, he will recognise that society as representing the interests of all its members?
§ Mr. PEASEI cannot accept the implication in the first sentence of the question. I have recently received an application from the Postal and Telegraph Clerks' Association for recognition as representing caretaker operators. The number of caretaker operators who are members of the association is only 100 out of a total number of about 1,000. I informed the association that this proportion is much smaller than is usually regarded as sufficient to justify official recognition; and that, until the proportion of members is substantially greater, I should not feel able to regard the association as representative of the class.