§ MR. J. HOWARDsaid, he would beg to ask the Postmaster General, If it is correct that while subordinate officers in Country Post Offices are allowed regular holydays, during which substitutes are provided by the Department, Country Postmasters, many of whom commence work at 5.30 a.m., and whose duties did not terminate till 10.30 p.m., are not allowed cither regular holydays or substitutes during absence; and, if so, whether there is any good reason for continuing such a distinction; whether a list of places, both at home and abroad, to which the public can telegraph is in course of preparation; and, if so, how soon it will be published; and whether 38 he will order a List of Foreign Rates for Telegrams to be published in the Postal Guides, or give to the public the information in some other way?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in reply, said, it was quite true that arrangements were made for allowing subordinate officers in the country post offices to have regular holydays; and it was also true that when the whole time of a Postmaster was occupied by his official duties arrangements were made for allowing him also to have regular holydays. But in the country the office of Postmaster was frequently held by persons who attended for the greater part of their time to other business, and it was not considered necessary in that case to arrange for special holydays, though no objection was ever made to the temporary absence of the Postmasters, if they found substitutes for the proper performance of their duties. In regard to the second Question of the hon. Member, such a list had been prepared and could be seen at the Post Office; but at present—when additions were being made to it almost every day—it was not considered desirable to make it public.