§ MR. COBB (Warwick, S.E., Rugby)asked the Postmaster General, Whether, in December 1868, because of an application for increase of salary, the position of Stationery Clerk in the Surveyors' Branch of the General Post Office was abolished, and a new regulation made, by which the Surveyors' stationery, i.e., office duties, were in future to be performed by clerks borne on the establishment of country post offices at a much lower scale of pay; whether the effect of that regulation is, that the officers permanently employed as Stationery Clerks in the Surveyors' Branch are 550 denied any status whatever on that branch; whether the results on the officers themselves, and the offices to which they are nominally attached, but in which they perform no duties whatever, have been brought more than once under the notice of the Department without effect; and, whether the work now performed by Stationery Clerks is of a much more important and arduous character than formerly, while their official prospects are worse; and, whether he will take steps to have their grievances, both as regards rank and remuneration, inquired into and ameliorated?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)In reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that the Stationery Clerks do not hold any permanent appointment as such. If, as alleged, the work now performed by the Stationery Clerks is more important and arduous than it was, it must remembered that the remuneration of the classes on which those officers are borne has been considerably improved. As regards the rank and remuneration of the Stationery Clerks, I am now considering whether some changes may not be desirable.