MR. PATRICK O' BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that John Gavin, a rural postman, Tipperary, has complained to his superior of overwork, having to walk eight hours per day serving his district with two deliveries, and twice memorialised the Department, asking to be relieved of some of this excessive duty; and whether any relief will be given him?
§ MR. HANBURYThe Postmaster General is informed that the postman referred to does not walk eight hours a day, nor make two deliveries. His duties extend over not quite seven hours a day, and he is engaged in actual walking fur about six hours a day. He has twice asked to be relieved of some of his work, but his request was not granted, as his duties do not exceed those performed by other established postmen. It is not proposed to give him relief, but his wages which were formerly 14s. a week, rising annually by 1s. to 18s. a week, have recently been raised, and he is now on the scale of 16s. to 20s. a week, his annual increment being 1s. 6d.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury as representing the Postmaster - General whether he is aware that John M'Donnell, 158 rural postman, Killinardrish, county Cork, bad his route considerably extended nine years ago, and was obliged to purchase a bicycle a year ago in order to get over his route in time to meet the requirements of the service; will he explain why M'Donnell has neither received extra pay for the extra work, nor the usual allowance of 4s. per week for providing himself with the bicycle; and whether he will see that some compensation is given him?
§ MR. HANBURYThe work of the rural postman referred to was reduced in 1888, and his wages were at that time fixed at 12s a week. His walk has since been slightly extended, but his wages were increased in 1891 to 13s. a week rising by annual increments of 1s. to 17s. a week. His present walk is short for a man receiving such wages, being only 11 miles a day on week days and 13½; miles on alternate Sundays. There is no need for a cycle on the post, but the postman some little time ago applied for and received permission to use a cycle for his own convenience. In such cases no allowance is made by the Department.