§ MR. O'HEA(for Mr. P. J.POWER) (Donegal, W.)asked the Postmaster General, Whether it is a fact that telegraph clerks withdrawn from the Belfast Post Office for relief duty at other offices in the Northern District, are only granted a subsistence allowance of 3s. per day; and, whether clerks withdrawn from the other offices in the same District, for the same purpose, are granted 2s. per day; and, if so, under what authority is the surveyor, Mr. Walter Ahearn, authorised to make the distinction, and to over-ride the specific instructions of the Postmaster General, issued in the official circular of the 19th June, 1883, which regulates the rate of allowance to clerks employed on relief duty, and states that when so employed they are to receive at the rate of 5s. per day?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)I have to inform the hon. Member, 1065 in reply to his Question, that the Circular of the. 19th of June, 1883, to which he refers, prescribes that an extra allowance, not exceeding 5s. a day for subsistence, may be granted to sorting clerks and telegraphists in the United Kingdom when detached from one office to another for the purpose of giving assistance in times of pressure. It is found that the cost of living at some places is greater than in others, and it is desirable to give a certain latitude to the head of a district to fix the allowance within a maximum according to the circumstances of the case. The duty is voluntary, and there are plenty of applicants.