HC Deb 05 March 1896 vol 38 c239
MR. COURTENAY WARNER (Stafford Lichfield)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if, considering the amount of extra work postmen have during an election, he will do something to give them extra remuneration for such work?

MR. AKERS-DOUGLAS

It is a rule of the service that under ordinary circumstances postmen are not paid for overtime, and it is a very necessary rule, as a general relaxation of it would offer a premium upon dawdling. At the same time it is recognised that there are exceptional cases in which overtime payment is allowable. Such, for instance, as when a postman is waiting for a train which is late, or when he is detained by a heavy snowstorm, or has an extra delivery to make. Extra work during an election, if involving any considerable overtime would also be paid for on the recommendation of the postman's superior officer.