§ MR. CROSS (Liverpool, West Derby)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he has received Petitions from the postmen at Liverpool, praying, amongst other things, for the removal of the limit in the number of stripes, for a limitation of the total number of hours over which their daily duties are spread to twelve, for modifications in the uniform supplied, for improvements with regard to their pay and overtime allowances, and for the reckoning of all Sunday work as overtime; and whether he is now prepared to give an answer to the petitioners?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES, Cambridge University)My hon. Friend is perhaps aware that Petitions such as those to which he alludes in his question are by no means confined to the postmen at Liverpool, but have been received from several other large towns. Such being the case I thought it best to refer them to a Committee which has had under consideration the position of provincial postmen generally throughout the country. The Report of this Committee I hope to receive very shortly; but I may mention that in anticipation of it, endeavours are already being made to reduce as far as possible the period over which the daily attendance of postmen is spread, whenever a revision of the outdoor duties at any office takes place.