MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Postmaster General whether eight hours per month Sunday duty is deducted from the pay of the hall porters in the General Post Office, 1759 Dublin, while all other officers are paid full time at time and a quarter rate; and, if so, why; whether he has yet considered the case of these officers; and if he is yet prepared to state the result?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONIt is not a correct statement of the case to say that the two hours of duty done on Sunday by the hall porters at the General Post Office, Dublin, constitute a deduction from their pay or an addition to their duty, for that amount of Sunday attendance formed part of the terms upon which they entered the Service upon weekly wages; nor is it correct to say that all other officers are paid at a higher rate for Sunday work. There are large numbers of Post Office servants in all parts of the Kingdom similarly employed for a short time on Sunday. I told the hon. Member in February that I would consider the matter, and returns of the Sunday work thus done are being furnished, but I cannot state at present whether there is any intention of altering the rate of pay given, which is, as I have said, in accordance with the conditions upon which the men took service.