§ MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether certain machine men employed in the Post Office have had their rate of pay per hour for extra duty reduced within the past six months, and also for Sunday duty; and, if so, why this reduction has been made?
MR. RITCCHIE (for Mr. HANBURY)It is the case that certain lift attendants at the chief office have had their rate of pay per hour for extra duty and Sunday duty assimilated to the uniform rate adopted on the recommendation of the Tweedmouth Committee; and, as through an oversight the increase of from 5s. to 6s. a week in their ordinary wages recommended by the Committee was not also carried out at the same time, there has been some temporary reduction in their pay for extra duty since April 1st last. The wages will, however, be increased from that date, and this will carry a higher rate of payment for weekday extra duty from the same date, so that, though they lose slightly on the Sunday rate, these men will now be on the whole much better off than formerly.
§ MR. STUARTDo I understand that the change has been made?
§ MR. RITCHIEYes, from April 1st last.