§ MR. CALDWELL (Glasgow, St. Rollox)asked the Postmaster General, Whether his attention has been called to the Circular of 21st February, 1888, No. 661, and to the entry therein, that first-class postmen employed in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin are to have two suits of uniform in each year, whilst first-class postmen employed in Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and other cities have only one suit of uniform in each year; and, what is the reason for the difference?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)It has long been the practice to supply postmen employed in the three Metropolitan Offices with two suits of uniform in each year, and to supply the men in the Provinces with one suit every eight months. The issue of alight suit to the latter class every alternate year, with a winter suit every year, will in no way lessen the total amount of clothing hitherto supplied. It will thus be seen that the arrangement described in the Circular referred to by the hon. Member, which was issued only for the information of the officers of the Department, makes no change in the existing relations between the postmen in London, Dublin, and Edinburgh, and those employed in Provincial offices. Any exception to this arrangement could scarcely be confined to Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham.