§ Mr. CASSELSasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in more than 60 provincial Post Offices from 50 to 100 per cent. of the eligible staffs of sorting clerks and telegraphists are members of the National Federation of Postal and Telegraph Clerks, and that, as such, they are denied the right of approach or negotiation with local postmasters and other administrative officials; and whether he is prepared to grant them the same privilege as those members of the same trade union in London Post Offices, where, under similar conditions, they have been granted local recognition?
§ Mr. HARTSHORNThe statement made in the first part of the hon. Member's question has previously been brought to my attention. The membership of the National Federation of Postal and Telegraph Clerks amongst the class of sorting clerks and telegraphists, taken1576W as a whole, amounts to less than one-tenth of the eligible staff, and I should not feel justified in granting any form of recognition to a body with so small a proportionate membership. I cannot agree that the conditions in the provinces are similar to those in London, where the federation has a much larger proportion of members.