HC Deb 03 August 1882 vol 273 cc707-9

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clause 8 (Arbitration under Act 22 and 23 Vict. c. 59).

MR. RAMSAY

said, he wished to move an Amendment to this clause, in respect of any services performed under the measure—namely, in page 6, line 19, after "Company," to insert "or any Company or person owning any steam vessel."

Question, "That those words be there inserted," put, and agreed to.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 9 to 12, inclusive, agreed to.

Clause 13 (Application of Act to steam vessels).

MR. PENDER

said, he wished to move an Amendment requiring steam vessels carrying on regular trade between certain ports of the United Kingdom to carry parcels at a remuneration to be decided by agreement or by arbitration.

Amendment proposed, In page 9, line 7, after "arrive," insert "and where any steam vessel carries on regular communication between a port in the United Kingdom and any other port or place within the United Kingdom, and such steam vessel is neither owned nor worked by any Railway Company, the Company or person or persons by whom such steam vessel is owned or worked shall, from and after the passing of this Act, be bound to convey parcels, and the remuneration due for the services rendered by such steam vessel, in respect of the conveyance of parcels, shall be determined by agreement between the Postmaster General and the Company or person or persons owning or working such steam vessel, or, in case of difference, such remuneration shall be determined by arbitration, and the amount so determined shall be paid direct to such Company or person or persons, and the parcels conveyed by such steam vessel shall not, in respect of that conveyance, be deemed to be parcels conveyed by Railway."—(Mr. Pender.)

Question, "That those words be there inserted, put, and agreed to.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Remaining clauses agreed to.

First Schedule agreed to.

Second Schedule.

MR. J. G. TALBOT

wished to ask the Postmaster General, what arrangement would be made to deal with the very large increase of labour that would fall upon the shoulders of that ill-paid class of public servants, the letter carriers, when this Bill became law? The work of these men would not only be increased in carrying parcels to the persons to whom they were addressed in the country districts, but in collecting them, and taking them to the post towns. He did not know what amount of extra carrying the Postmaster General expected in consequence of the passage of the Bill; but if the Parcels Post was availed of to anything like a large extent, the additional labour to the letter carriers would be very great. Had the Postmaster General taken this matter into his consideration; and did he intend, besides increasing the wages of the carriers, to substitute mail carts in certain of the rural districts for the ordinary walking postmen?

MR. FAWCETT

said, this matter had been before the attention of the Post Office authorities for some considerable time, and they had asked the Provincial postmasters to furnish reports as to the charge which would probably have to be made for carts where at present there were foot posts. He had no doubt that many rural districts, instead of being served by foot posts, would be served by carts; and, therefore, the labour of many letter carriers would be reduced.

Second Schedule agreed to.

Third Schedule agreed to.

House resumed.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow.