MR. FIELDI beg to ask the Postmaster General whether the postmen in Reading are employed to paint the letter and pillar boxes during the time in which they are not engaged in the delivery of letters, with the result that the work is thereby taken away from the painters; if he will explain why no answer has been sent to the letters addressed to the local Postmaster and the Postmaster General on the subject; and whether it is intended to continue this practice?
§ *MR. A. MORLEYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The letter addressed to me reached me on August 22, and I authorised an answer to be sent on Thursday last.
MR. FIELDAm I to understand that postmen are expected to be painters? Is that the effect of the right hon. Gentleman's answer?
§ *MR. A. MORLEYThe hon. Member must not infer anything of the kind. Many of the men are not fully employed, and they are thus enabled to occupy their spare time.
§ MR. J. BURNS (Battersea)Am I to. understand that they were auxiliary postmen, and the work was given them in the time they were not collecting and delivering letters?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI will inquire into that.
§ MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)Were they receiving Trades Union pay per day?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI cannot say.