§ MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether any Order exists prohibiting Post Office servants from holding meetings in their own time outside the Post Office premises unless the Postmaster's sanction is first obtained; when and by whom such an Order was introduced; and under what Act of Parliament he derives the authority for interfering with the liberty of postal employés during their leisure hours?
§ MR. RAIKESIn reply to the hon. Member I have to state that an Order does exist prohibiting Post Office 126 servants from holding meetings outside the Post Office building for the discussion of official questions. Such an Order was introduced in 1806 by the late Lord Stanley of Alderley, when Post master General. I am not aware of any Act of Parliament bearing on the subject; but it will be obvious that in the administration of a public Department regulations cannot always be confined to matters for which an Act of Parliament provides. I have recently sanctioned a meeting of Post Office employés outside the building of the Post Office, and I have been for some time considering-how far I can amend the existing rule so as to afford reasonable facilities for such meetings being held.
§ MR. CREMERDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that the rule prohibiting meetings of employés outside the Post Office building has been framed exclusively upon the authority of a Postmaster General?
§ MR. RAIKESCertainty, Sir. I presume that all the regulations in force at the Post Office have been established on the authority of successive occupants of the post which I now fill.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N)Does the discussion of the question of wages come under the rule prohibiting meetings with reference to official questions?
§ MR. RAIKESI should think it does. I have recently afforded permission to the sorters in the Post Office to hold meetings outside the Post Office.
§ MR. PICTON (Leicester)Are we to understand that the Postmaster General has the power to restrict the Constitutional liberties of an important body of her Majesty's subjects?
§ * MR. WINTERBOTHAM (Gloucester, Cirencester)The House wishes to understand this question. Do we understand that the Postmaster General claims the right to issue regulations to control what the employés shall do throughout the whole of the 24 hours that go to make up the day —work hours and leisure hours equally?
§ MR. RAIKESThe point is not what they may do with their leisure, but the course they may take in regard to official questions.
§ MR. CREMERI beg to give notice that, in Committee of Supply, I shall call attention to the un-Constitutional 127 authority now exercised by the Postmaster General, and move a reduction of the Post Office Vote.