§ MR. SCHWANNI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is able to give a reply to the petition from the employees of the Manchester Post Office, dated Kith August 1896, with reference to their alleged local grievances, seeing that six months have nearly elapsed since its presentation?
§ MR. HANBURYA petition was received from the Town Postmen at Manchester in August last, complaining that the attendance on many of the duties was protracted beyond the regulation eight hours, that certain of the duties involved attendance at inconvenient times, and that the supervising force was inadequate. The petition was duly acknowledged at the time. A general revision of the postmen's duties at Manchester took place about a year ago, but, as it was found shortly after that further relief was required, owing to the rapid increase of business, 48 more postmen were then sanctioned by the Postmaster General. In January of this year he sanctioned the employment of 30 more postmen, making 78 in all since April last. A general revision of the duties is under consideration, and it is hoped that the revision will be completed shortly.