§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether attention will be paid to the claims of the Irish Post Office assistants who perform the general work of the General Post Office and are not recognised by the Department; whether, many have upwards of eight years' service, and do from ten to fourteen hours daily, and frequent night work; whether these assistants are engaged and dismissed by the Postmaster; and whether, under the circumstances, an inquiry will be made into the alleged grievances with a view to their redressal?
SIR J. GORSTMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Assistants are employed by the Postmaster of the smaller post offices in Ireland in the same way as in England and Scotland, and are usually young persons in training for established appointments, which they often receive after a comparatively short period of service. In fact, it is a common complaint of Postmasters that, after having trained their assistants, they cannot retain them, as they so quickly obtain appointments elsewhere. There may be cases in which assistants have, for one reason or another, not obtained appointments—possibly have not desired or deserved them—and have remained in their original employment as long as stated; but it is not known that their hours are unduly long, and no complaint has been received on the subject. Assistants are often occupied partly in the post office and partly on the private business of the Postmaster, whose servants they are, and by whom their services are engaged and dispensed with. It is not thought that there are any general grievances of the kind alleged, but if any particular office can be specified in which hardship is believed to exist, inquiry will be made with a view to its removal.
§ DR. TANNERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a memorial has been recently forwarded from the local post offices, signed by upwards of two hundred and forty of these Irish Post Office assistants, calling attention to these grievances? I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in 1894 view of the fact that this memorial has been sent forward and has been received by the Post Office, it will receive the consideration due to it and to these men?
SIR J. GORSTNo; I gather that my right hon. Friend knows nothing at all about that. But if any such memorial has been received no doubt it will be considered.