§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether rural postmen would be allowed to use a donkey and car on their route if willing to provide such conveyance at their own expense; whether rural postmen are entitled to an extra day's pay in lieu of a day's leave for all Bank Holidays; and is he aware that postmen at some offices in Ireland only get such allowance for Good Friday and Christmas Day?
§ MR. HANBURYRural postmen on foot posts are allowed, on application, to use a horse or donkey and cart at their own expense, unless there be some special reason why permission should not be 408 given. It is the rule for all postmen to receive extra pay for work done on Bank Holidays, or leave in lieu thereof if they prefer it. The Postmaster General is not aware of any case in which extra pay is limited to Christmas Day and Good Friday; but if the hon. Member knows of any instance, the Postmaster General will be glad to hear from him in order that the matter may be inquired into.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether rural postmen at head offices in Ireland have received the increase of 1s. 6d. per week, while men attached to sub-offices are not entitled to receive it until April next; and, if so, why are the two classes of postmen treated differently; and whether the rural postmen attached to head offices also receive 2s. more maximum pay than the sub-office men who work the same number of hours?
§ MR. HANBURYThe Postmaster General is not aware of any such difference of treatment between the two classes of postmen as that described. Inquiry will be made in the matter. The maximum pay of the rural postmen attached to a head office is 2s. below that of the town postmen at the same office, and the same principle applies as a rule to the larger sub-offices.