§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Postmaster General, If it is intended to take any steps to ameliorate the position of the letter carriers as to pay or otherwise?
§ MR. FAWCETTIt will probably be in the recollection of the House that as recently as Thursday last I answered a Question to almost the same effect as that which is now addressed to me by my hon. Friend. I then stated that the various Memorials which had been received from letter-carriers and others were being carefully considered, and if I should have any proposals to make to the Treasury, there should be no unnecessary delay in submitting them. On that occasion I made an appeal, which, I think, from the manner in which it was received, was considered a not unreasonable one—that I should not be pressed to give a decision before I had had time properly to investigate the subject. I will now ask permission to make this further remark. The obvious truth seems to be too often forgotten, that if the Government increases the remuneration of its servants, the money has to be found by the general body of the taxpayers; and nothing could be more indefensible than to take money from the community to give it to a special class, unless it were found, after careful investigation, that justice demanded such an appropriation.