HC Deb 07 July 1890 vol 346 cc1038-40

(12.40.) On the Motion for adjournment:—

MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

Before that Motion is put, I wish to ask the Postmaster General a question as to which I will only trouble him with a few words on account of the gravity of the situation. I wish to ask him whether it is a fact, as I heard stated this evening, that sorters and telegraph boys are summoned for Tuesday morning to act as blacklegs in place of the regular postmen? I wish to ask whether, in view of the position of affairs in the Post Office, this is to be done? I have just come from a meeting of the Postmen's Union, at which no less than 1,000 Post Office employ°s were present. The meeting was addressed by Mr. Shipton, among others, and a resolution was unanimously passed that the Postmen's Union, which consists of more than three-fourths of the Postal Staff in the Metropolis, should authorise the Trades' Union Council, which represents 40,000 workmen, to make representations to Government and to Parliament with a view to mediation between the Post Office and the Union, and that no action should be taken by the Union pending the receipt of a Report from the Trades' Union Council as to the effect of the representations made. It was further provided that such Report should be presented within 12 days, and it was stipulated that the Postmaster General should not proceed to violent measures in the way of supplanting the men or reducing or suspending Post Office employ°s. I think it is right that the right hon. Gentleman should understand the position of affairs, in view of the grave intelligence which came to the meeting, that he was about to take violent measures to-morrow morning. In taking the action the meeting did the men did not act exactly in consonance with their own feelings, but they were guided by a strict sense of duty, and they also acted upon the urgent advice of their leaders. I hold in my hand a placard which was posted at the instance of the right hon. Gentleman this afternoon, and which has been taken by the Post Office employ°s as a direct repudiation of a request which was made on behalf of the Postmen's Union by letter this afternoon. This placard was regarded by the men as a direct threat of supplanting them in their work by means of blacklegs, and I must state that the placard was publicly burned at the meeting. I hope the right hon. Gentleman will realise what is the state of things, and that he will not drive the men to extremities.

*(12.45.) THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKBS, Cambridge University)

I doubt if this House has ever before listened to such a speech as has just been made. I regret that any Member of this House should have thought it consonant with his public duty to indulge in such observations as the hon. Gentleman has just uttered in a matter of very serious public interest. I have no knowledge of any placard having been issued this afternoon by my authority or by the authority of the Department; and, therefore, if the hon. Gentleman thinks he has served the interests of his friends by referring to that, certainly the charge he wished to levy against my Department recoils upon himself. I can only say that in dealing with a question which would never have assumed its present proportions had it not been for the uncalled-for interference of professional agitators, I have sought, as far as I can, to keep in view the interests of members of the Service and of the public; and I am happy to assure the hon. Member that I believe I have made satisfactory arrangements for carrying on the Public Service if any misguided persons should so far forget their public duties as to desert them without reason or excuse. I cannot speak as I should like to do within the limits of Parlia- mentary courtesy of the tone taken by I the hon. Member in referring to individuals who have volunteered their services to the Department inoffensive and opprobrious terms which are unworthy of this House; but I will say that, if those misguided individuals who have listened to the mischievous counsels which they now appear to see through have at last learned wisdom, I am glad. The hon. Member himself has had the candour to admit that this somewhat tardy repentance is due to the fact that they have become aware that their services are not indispensable. I am quite prepared efficiently to maintain the Postal Service of this Metropolis, whatever may be said by the hon. Member and those who act with him. I am happy to say I hold in my hand a Resolution, which has just reached me from the important E.C. District, to the effect that that meeting of postmen had unanimously passed a resolution strongly deprecating any extreme action which would tend to disorganise the London Postal Service, and requesting the Postmaster General to receive a deputation of postmen with a view to their grievances being inquired into. As I have already stated on several occasions in the course of the last few weeks, I am perfectly ready to receive any deputation of postmen which approaches me in a regular and recognised manner; and I am inclined to believe that the labour spent by mischievous agitators in fomenting these disturbances in the Public Services will be found to be entirely thrown away.

(12.48.) MR. CONYBEARE

In reference to the placard I should like to explain that I have a copy of it here. It is duly signed. It is dated the 7th July, 1889, and it begins with the words "Mr. Raikes directs." If the right hon. Gentleman was not aware that it had been issued, I think his lack of knowledge shows there is a great deal more disorganisation in the Office than he is aware of.

House adjourned at ten minutes before One o'clock.