§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMI beg to ask the Attorney General whether the law forbidding employers of labour to fine their employés applies to the Postmaster General in relation to postmen; and whether the Postmaster General has legal power to fine Post Office employés either in money or by imposing extra duty without pay?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir R. WEBSTER,) Isle of WightApart from the Truck Acts and certain special Trade Statutes, which have no application to the hon. Member's question, there is not, so far as I know, any Statute or Rule of Law forbidding the Postmaster General or any other employer of labour to impose fines or make deductions from wages for misconduct or breach of rules.
§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMI beg to ask the hon. and learned Gentleman whether he will state what restrictions the Postmaster General has legal power to impose upon Post Office employés when not on duty; and whether he will state whether the Postmaster General has any legal power to interfere with postmen for attending' public or trade union meetings when not on duty?
§ SIR R. WEBSTERIt is not possible to answer the first paragraph of the hon. Member's question, as it raises a mere abstract question of law. The Postmaster General can make such rules as are in his judgment necessary for the proper fulfilment of their duties by the persons employed by him, and is entitled to dismiss from the service those persons who are not willing to conform thereto.
§ MR. C. GRAHAMI should be glad if the hon. and learned Gentleman could give me a more definite answer. A man without any wish to infringe the law may sometimes do so in ignorance.
§ SIR R. WEBSTERI would gladly give the hon. Member any assistance in my power; but the matter is not one that can be more definitely stated in answer to a question.