§ MR. J. G. TALBOTasked the Postmaster General, Whether it may be understood from his answer, on the 23rd April, that the clerks in the Post Office Savings Banks throughout England will, as far as practicable, be relieved from their duties on December 26, Easter Monday, and Whit Monday; and, whether he will not consent to extend this privilege to them on the other Bank Holiday,—viz., the first Monday in August?
§ MR. MONSELLSir, from the terms of the hon. Member's Question, he seems to be under the impression that in country post offices the savings bank business is separated from other postal business, and devolves upon different persons. That is not so; and therefore, in the large majority of places it would not be possible to give a holiday to the persons engaged in savings bank business without closing the post offices altogether, and such is certainly not my intention. With respect to the second part of the Question, I explained the other day that the Bank Holidays Act did not apply to the Civil Service of the Crown; but I stated also that upon the three days I mentioned, as those holidays were generally observed throughout the City of London, it would be proper to extend them to the servants of the Post Office. I believe, however, that the first Monday in August is not so universally observed, and, therefore, it is not my intention at present to extend the holidays to that day.