EARL COMPTON (York, W.R., Barnsley)I beg to ask the Postmaster General what was the average day's work in the Savings Bank Department during the months of January, 1890, and 1891 for the male sorters, and also for boy messengers (aged 13 to 17); whether some of the male sorters have been kept at work for 13, 14, and 15 hours out of the 24; whether boy messengers have been kept at work for 16 hours out of the 24; and whether any boy messenger averaged 12¾ hours work a day during the month of January?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES, Cambridge University)The average day's work of a male sorter in the Savings Bank in one particular month, namely, January, 1890, was 11 1930 hours 40 minutes. In the corresponding month of 1891 the average was 12 hours 36 minutes. The average day's work for boy messengers in January, 1890, was 11 hours 18 minutes. In the corresponding month of 1891 it was 11 hours 20 minutes. In the early part of January in each year some of the male sorters have volunteered to work between 12 and 15 hours, but the practice is objectionable. I am not aware of any boy messengers having been kept at work for 16 hours. Some of the elder boys have averaged 12¾ hours work a day during the month of January. I entirely deprecate the continuance of such a state of public business, and, although no complaints have been made by the staff of excessive hours, I have, in order to stop it, directed steps to be taken to add about 50 officers to the minor staff.