§ MR. D. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will secure that rural auxiliary postmen in Ireland doing four or four and a half hours' duty will be allowed twelve week days' holiday, two-thirds pay when sick, and 15s. yearly boot money; and will men doing four hours' duty be classed as assistant postmen; and, if not, what is meant by the statement in the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee that it is impossible the duties of assistant postmen should occupy exactly six hours, but that the great majority of assistant postmen should have six hours, and that none should have less than four hours?
§ MR. HANBURYIn accordance with the recommendation of Lord Tweed-mouth's Committee, rural auxiliary postmen doing five hours' work and upwards 294 will in future be entitled to the privileges described. But there is no intention of extending these privileges to men doing only four or four and a half hours' duty. Auxiliary postmen will not, under the recommendation of the Committee, be classed as assistant postmen, unless they have been telegraph messengers, or have served in the Army or Navy, and are, waiting for established appointments. Assistant postmen will be entitled to an annual holiday of twelve week days, two-thirds pay when sick, and a boot allowance of 15s. a year, provided their days work is not less than four hours.