§ Mr. DUCKWORTHasked the Postmaster-General the reasons for the new policy in the telegraph service, whereby women are to replace men in considerable numbers; how many men will thus be affected; whether any established civil servants will be dismissed; and how much the saving to the nation will be?
§ Sir. W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe decision to increase the proportion of women on telegraph instrument duties 1681W follows the extension of the use of typewriter keyboard instruments, which are specially suitable for operation by women, and the decrease during recent years in the proportion of night work. No dismissal of established officers is involved. The saving over any given period cannot be precisely estimated, as it depends on the occurrence of vacancies; but it will eventually reach a substantial figure.