§ Mr. A. SHORTasked the Postmaster-General whether night telephonists and call office operators are compelled to work longer hours than other sections of the Post Office staff; whether he is aware that on 8th January last the Secretary to the Post Office stated that the men were engaged for night work, and were continuously employed upon it; whether the interim Report of the Master of Balliol's Committee on Adult Education contains special reference to such cases as these; and whether he will take into consideration the interim Report with a view to much needed reforms in his Department?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHAs regards the hours of night telephonists, I would refer to the reply given to a question by the hon. Member on the same subject yesterday. The class of call office attendants, which was amalgamated with that of night telephonists under a recommendation of the Select Parliamentary Committee on Post Office Servants of 1913, has the same weekly hours of duty. Night telephonists are engaged continuously upon night duty. The Committee referred to took the view that night work, whether periodical or continuous, is open to objection, but they recognised that in certain circumstances it is inevitable. If the requirements of the public for night telephone service are to be met, the only444W alternative would be the adoption of the shift system, which would involve the employment of women at night and appears to be regarded by the Committee as equally undesirable.