HC Deb 20 June 1881 vol 262 cc836-7
LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

asked the Postmaster General, Whether his attention has been called to the case of a telegraph clerk in the Western District, who, in consequence of overwork, has become temporarily incapacitated from duty owing to mental derangement; whether he will say what was the length of the duty performed by him on each of the seven days previous to his leaving off work; whether any part of those duties was voluntary, and paid for as overtime; and, whether any deduction from his salary will be made during the time he is away ill?

MR. FAWCETT

Sir, although the telegraphist referred to in the Question of the noble Lord worked, on an, average, during the three weeks previous to the time when he was taken ill, 47 hours a-week—that is, less than eight hours a-day—yet I regret to find that the work was so unequally apportioned, that whereas in one week he only worked three hours a-day, he worked in the week preceding his illness nine and 12 hours a-day alternately. The 12 hours he worked on the Sunday immediately preceding his illness he performed as a matter of private arrangement for another telegraphist. I feel very strongly that steps ought to Le taken to prevent such an unequal apportionment of work, and a reference to the Correspondence which, has just been published will show that I have endeavoured to deal with it in the sixth of the nine recommendations which have been made to the Treasury. I believe the arrangement there proposed will not only materially improve the position of the telegraphists and postal clerks with reference to overtime, but will afford the Department the means of at once ascertaining by an arithmetical test whether in any particular office the amount of overtime is unduly large or is unequally apportioned. Although, the telegraphist referred to has always been delicate, I have reason to hope from the report of the medical officer that his present illness is only temporary. Under the circumstances, I have given-instructions that during his absence he should receive full pay.