§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)asked the Postmaster General, Whether, in view of the fact that the parcel postmen in towns are in some cases only paid 16s. per week; that this is insufficient to enable them to live and maintain their families decently; that they are not allowed, like the letter carriers, to receive Christmas boxes; that their wage was originally based upon the intention to employ Pensioners and Army Reserve men, who had other means of subsistence; and that only about 10 per cent of parcel postmen are either Pensioners or Army Reserve men, he can see his way to grant them what may be deemed a fair and adequate wage, based upon that which is paid to letter carriers?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)There are comparatively very few towns in which unestablished postmen, giving their whole time to the Office when employed entirely on the delivery and collection of parcels, receive wages of not more than 16s. a-week. At the few towns where wages of only 16s. a-week are paid, such wages are not below the market value of labour in the district, and they are found sufficient to secure the services of suitable persons. The Department, although it has not prohibited postmen from receiving Christmas boxes from the public, does not by any means wish to encourage the extension of the system. The wages for persons employed on parcel work were not, as the hon. Member suggests, based upon the intention of employing Pensioners and Army Reserve men having other means of subsistence; though, as a matter of fact, in London, where there are about 400 men employed on parcel work, with fixed wages of 18s. a-week each, the proportion of Pensioners and Army Reserve men is as much as 25 per cent, four-fifths being Army Reserve men.