§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether a Circular has been issued within the past month to postmasters in Ireland notifying them that the Circular of the 4th June, 1889, relative to the earlier return of rural postmen on bank holidays, 728 observed in Ireland; and, if so, whether it is intended that some allowance, either in the shape of extra pay for bank holidays, or relief from duty on some other days, will be allowed to rural postmen in Ireland, to place them on an equality with rural postmen in England?
§ * MR. RAIKESYes, Sir; I find that such a Circular was issued in the North of Ireland, owing to the regulation in force in England having been acted upon in error at an Irish office, and having given rise to public complaint. The regulations on the subject follow the public observance of bank holidays. Neither in Ireland nor in Scotland are bank holidays kept by the community, and I am, therefore, not prepared to withhold postal accommodation from the public on those days. As regards the suggestion of the hon. Member, I do not at present see my way to giving extra pay to postmen in Ireland in lieu of relief on a bank holiday, as that course would put them in a better position than postmen in England and Wales, and so create that inequality which the hon. Member is anxious to obviate.