HC Deb 14 March 1890 vol 342 cc864-6
MR. M'CARTAN (Down, S.)

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he will state the number of deaths which occurred among the male clerks at the Central Telegraph Office between 1st January, 1889, and 1st January, 1890; and the number of such clerks who were absent from duty on account of illness during this period?

* MR. RAIKES

Among the male staff at the Central Telegraph Office, consisting of 1,566 persons, the number of deaths during the year 1889 was 11. During the same period the number of sick absentees for periods of one day and u p wards was 1,195.

MR. M'CARTAN

I beg to ask the Postmaster General, with regard to the fact that the reasons for punishing the two clerks (Messrs. Hughes and Garland) at the Central Telegraph Office were stated in the written demand for explanation sent to them to be that they were prominent members of a so-called Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association, and that consequently they had laid themselves under "a grave suspicion of meeting to discuss affairs of management"; whether Mr. Garland was suspended on a direct charge to this effect, and which was afterwards orally reduced to a "grave suspicion"; whether punishment of both clerks was unusually severe as compared with the usual punishment for such breaches of discipline; and whether he will make inquiry into the matter, and, if necessary, give directions that officers of the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association are not to be prejudiced by reason of their connection with that Association?

* MR. RAIKES

Having seen the official Papers connected with the case to which the hon. Member refers, I am able to state that absence from their posts was the ground on which alone the telegraphists in question were punished, although no doubt in the demand for explanation the supposed reason for such absence was referred to. The punishment appears to me to have been by no means unduly severe, and I see no reason for making further inquiry into the matter. I will undertake that telegraphists shall not be prejudiced by reason of their being members of the Association in question; but, at the same time, the House will well understand that the fact of their being members cannot be accepted as an excuse for absenting themselves from their posts.

(4.0.) MR. M'CARTAN

I beg to ask whether there were clerks employed at the Central Telegraph Office several months last year from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.; whether these were given any meal time, and whether, having regard to the prevalence of consumption and dyspepsia among them and the heavy rate of mortality in the Central Telegraph Office, and considering that they are the only body of officers in the service of the State who do work for eight or more hours continuously, he will give these clerks a fixed and reasonable time for at least one meal?

* MR. RAIKES

During the busy season last year some few telegraphists whose normal duty was from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. performed overtime in the afternoon from 2 p.m. to 5 p,m., but this was of very rare occurrence. All were provided with tea, and all had an opportunity of partaking of supper; and in their case an exception to the rule was made in so far that those who asked for it were, as far as practicable, allowed an interval for dinner. As regards the mortality, I am happy to be able to state that, as will be seen from my answer of yesterday, in reply to the question of the hon. Member, it is only at the rate of about 7 in 1,000 as compared with about 21 for the rest of the community. I may add that having regard to the exceptional strain to which the telepraphists are subject—especially those who are engaged overtime—I shall always be glad to give them any reasonable facilities for obtaining refreshments.