§ MR. HENNTKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he can state the number of Telegraph Messengers employed in the Department, the number 546 employed in London, how many are, provided with bicycles, and what measures are being taken to increase the number of bicycles for the more expeditious delivery of messages; whether encouragement in the shape of gratuities is given to Telegraph Messengers using their own bicycles; and whether he is aware that Telegraph Messengers in France are given an increased salary when they use their own bicycles?
§ MR. HANBURYThere are approximately 13,350 messengers, of whom about 3,450 are employed in London; but these figures do not include a number of messengers who are employed by Sub-Postmasters and paid out of allowances granted to provide for the delivery of telegrams. Bicycles are used by 86 messengers, of whom 16 are in London. The Postmasters in London and the Surveyors in the country were instructed some time ago to report whether the use of bicycles could be extended in any case with advantage, and every opportunity is being taken to try the experiment where the circumstances appear to promise a satisfactory result. Where the boys are paid by fixed wages, an allowance, varying from 2s. to 4s. a week according to circumstances, in addition to their usual wages, is granted to messengers who use their own bicycles for telegraph delivery work. The few who are not paid by fixed wages can, of course, deliver more messages and so earn more pay. The Postmaster General has, as yet, no official information as to the arrangements made in France for the delivery of telegrams by cycles.