§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether Commissionaires are employed at the Central Telegraph Office on night duty, from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., after parading from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; whether night duty for civilians is seven hours; whether the pay received for 84 hours weekly is 26s. 6d., or under 4d. per hour; and whether he will extend to these old soldiers the same hours granted to civilians and a minimum wage of 6d. per hour?
§ MR. ARNOLD MORLEYThe hours of work and the pay of the Commissionaires employed by the Post Office were arranged some years ago, after consultation with the Officers of the Corps; but I shall be very glad to look into the matter with the view of ascertaining whether present circumstances would justify any amelioration of the conditions under which their duties are performed at night. I may add that, though it may be the fact that the men are on duty for 12 hours, there is usually an interval when the work falls off considerably, which admits of their obtaining some two hours' rest.