§ MR. KNOXI beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that telegraph messengers attached to the Belfast Office are fined at the rate of 1s. an hour as punishment for late attendance; that they are messengers paid according to the number of messages delivered each week; and that their average pay is about 6s. weekly; and whether he will reduce the fine to a sum corresponding to the earnings of the boys?
§ MR. A. MORLEYThe hon. Member appears to have been somewhat misinformed. The fines for telegraph messengers at Belfast for late attendance are at the rate of 8d. an hour, and not 1s. These boys' last quarter were at the rate of 8s. a week, and they rarely fall below 7s. The fines, however, appear to be heavier than at other offices, and I will consider whether they cannot be reduced.