§ MR. SUMMERSasked the Postmaster General, Whether he is now in a position to state what decision has been 893 arrived at with reference to the Memorials of the letter-carriers?
§ MR. FAWCETTSir, I am glad to be able to state, in reply to the Question of my hon. Friend, that a decision has now been arrived at on the subject of letter-carriers' wages. Without troubling the House with details, I may state generally that the effect of that decision will be, as regards the majority of the letter-carriers employed in London, to raise their scale at the maximum by 2s. a-week, and to substitute an annual increment for a triennial one. In the country the scales will be reduced from 27 in number to seven, and these are in every case higher than those which they supersede. The system of good conduct stripes, carrying with them a special allowance of 1s., 2s., and 3s. a-week, will be extended to the country, and in this matter the country and the suburbs of London will be placed on the same footing as London proper is now. In the case of the auxiliaries in London, whose time is only partially occupied by their official duties, their pay for the early morning delivery will be raised from 10d. to 1s. a-morning, and after they have served five years as auxiliaries, it is my intention, provided they fulfil the conditions prescribed by the Civil Service Commissioners and are considered eligible in other respects, to promote them to the establishment as opportunity offers. The revision will also affect the wages of lobby-porters, porters, stampers, and labourers, whose work, so far as regards hours of employment, is determined by that of the letter-carriers.
§ MR. SUMMERSAt what date will the new scheme come into operation?
§ MR. FAWCETTFrom the time when the decision was arrived at—that is, from the end of last week.