HC Deb 30 November 1893 vol 19 cc90-1
MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick's)

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that the Dublin mail-cart drivers, employed by the contractor to the Government, are obliged to work 365 days in the year, with hours of labour ranging from an average of 14 to over 20 in times of pressure; whether the pay is 14s. per week; and whether those men are to be specially excluded from the provisions laid down in the Fair Wages' Resolution passed by this House?

MR. A. MORLEY

At the request of my hon. Friend I have been looking into the case mentioned in the question, but I am not sure that the Dublin mail-cart drivers have been so hardly dealt with as is implied in the question. The men have been employed by the contractor, and are not servants of the Department, but I may say that a new contract has become necessary in consequence of the death of the contractor, which was reported to me only a few days ago; and I shall take care that the clause relating to wages now adopted in conformity with the Resolution of the House of Commons is inserted in the new contract.