§ SIR W. WEDDERBURN (Banffshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that, during the first quarter of 1894, the assistant mail officers, employed in the Sea Post Office between Bombay and Aden, worked on an average over 12 hours a day; and that, out of 53 days of such employment, they, during 26 days, worked over 16 hours a day, and, in four cases, over 20 hours a day; and whether, considering the effect of such hours on health in a tropical climate, he will cause inquiry to be made into the grievance complained of?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. H. H. FOWLER, Wolverhampton, E.)The information at the India Office does not come down to so late a date as the first quarter of 1894. In a Report relating to 1893, it is stated that the staff is fixed so as to give each sorter about eight hours' work a day during a run of five days. In exceptional cases of very fast runs, they may with a heavy mail have to work for 10 hours a day. In order to get through the work early in the voyage, they sometimes—especially if the weather is favourable—work longer; but, if so, it is by their own choice. The arrangements are such that, out of every 21 days, every sorter gets at least 10 days' rest ashore, besides an additional week at Bombay after every three trips, I will, however, inquire whether, as a matter of fact, the sorters have been allowed voluntarily to work for the hours mentioned in the question, which would appear to be excessive.