§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the Postmaster-General whether the telegraphists who entered the service in the Central Telegraph Office between the years 1881 and 1892 under the inducement of a maximum annual salary of £190 will be prejudicially affected by the recent decision fixing the maximum pay of a telegraphist in the inland gallery at £182 per annum?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe notice issued to candidates for posts as telegraphists in the Central Telegraph Office between 1880 and 1890 stated that they would have "a prospect of attaining £190," the reference being to the existence of a higher class with a maximum of £190 to which telegraphists were eligible for promotion on the occurrence of vacancies. The maximum pay of the basic class was then £100. I do not see how the raising of the maximum of the basic class to £182 per annum can be held to have prejudiced the position, of the men who entered between 1880 and 1890. They are now eligible for promotion to a class with a maximum of £260.