§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Postmaster General, Whether he has seen a statement made at a meeting of London telegraph clerks on Saturday last, "that some of them had worked twenty-one consecutive hours;" whether the statement is true; and, if so, what rate of overtime is paid for such exceptionally severe labour; and, how far is liability to such excessive hours prevalent at other large offices?
§ MR. FAWCETTSir, in the inquiries I have been lately making into the position of the telegraphists, I have seen reason to direct particular attention to the question of overtime. Although the length of the ordinary day's work is eight hours, it is often arranged that the 16 hours worked in two days should be divided into a short day's work of three hours, succeeded by one of 13 hours, and after working 13 hours, the telegraphists not no frequently volunteer to work overtime. It has occasionally happened that a telegraphist has been on duty 21 hours. I am sure that such an amount of continuous duty must be alike injurious to the telegraphist and to the interest of the Public Service. In the proposals I am about to make with regard to the future position of the telegraphists, the question of overtime will be dealt with in such a way as will, I hope, prevent such excessive employment in future.