§ MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork City)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, for the purpose of the scale of pay of postmen, Cork is only a fifth class office, whereas Limerick, with a much smaller population, is a fourth class office; and, if so, why; whether the second class sorting clerks in Dublin, Belfast, Limerick, and Cork are in receipt of a uniform rate of pay, and why a different practice prevails as regards postmen; whether, within the past 15 years, the maximum pay of second class sorting clerks has increased from 24s. to 42s., i.e., by 18s. a week, whereas, in the same time, the maximum salary of postmen in Cork has only increased by 4s., i.e., from 20s. to 24s.; and, whether something will now be done to improve the position of the Cork postmen?
§ * MR. HANBURYFor the purpose of the scale of pay of postmen, Cork and Limerick are on an equality. The second class sorting clerks in Dublin, Belfast, Limerick, and Cork are in receipt of a uniform scale of pay, but the pay of the postmen varies somewhat on account of its being based upon the value of outdoor labour in those towns. Within the past 15 years, the maximum pay of second class sorting clerks at Cork and Limerick has increased from 25s. and 24s. respectively, to 40s., i.e., by 15s. and 16s. a week, whereas, in the same time, the maximum salary of postmen in Cork has only increased by 4s., i.e., from 20s. to 24s. The question of the Cork postmen will be considered in connection with the general questions now before the Tweedmouth Committee, 1332 and pending the Report of the Committee, it is not proposed to take any steps in the matter.