The course of instruction usually extends over a period of three months, but if at any period of their tuition, or during their probationary employment at a telegraph office, it becomes evident they display no aptitude for the duties of a telegraphist, their nomination or probationary appointment will be cancelled.
The scale of pay for women is 8s. per week, on receiving a certificate from the school, and commencing the period of probation; rising to 12s. on being certified to be fully capable of transmitting public messages; and rising to 14s. on being certified as being capable of taking charge of a telegraph instrument; afterwards, as vacancies occur, 14s. per week, increasing by 1s. per week to 17s. per week, with a prospect of rising to 30s. per week.
Hours of attendance for female clerks, eight hours a day, between the hours of 8 A.M. and 8 P.M.
Post Office Clerks.—A considerable number of ladies are employed in the Receiver and Accountant General's Office; it is, I believe, more generally known as the Post Office Clearing House. An entrance examination has to be passed in the following subjects of competitive examination, conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners:—
(1.) Handwriting and orthography.
(2.) English grammar and composition.
(3.) Arithmetic (including vulgar and decimal fractions).
(4.) Geography.
Candidates under seventeen or above twenty years of age are ineligible.
| Salary. | |||||
| 2nd Class, | £40, | rising by | £7 10s. | yearly to | £75. |
| 1st Class, | £80 | " | £7 10s. | " | £100. |
| Principal Clerks, | £110 | " | £10 | " | £150. |