§ GENERAL GOLDSWORTHY (Hammersmith)On behalf of the hon. Member for Wandsworth (Mr. HENRY KIMBER) I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Post- 725 master General, with reference to the recommendations of the Tweedmouth Committee that auxiliary postmen, working five hours daily, should receive boot allowance, sick pay, and holidays, winch were adopted by the Treasury, whether the Postmaster General is aware that several auxiliary postmen in Tooting, who are performing an equivalent to five hours' duty daily, i.e., two deliveries and a collection, and are paid for five hours, have nevertheless been refused the concessions recommended by the Report, and have been asked to refund the boot allowance already paid them on 1st May last; and on what grounds these men were first paid such allowance, and are now asked to refund it; and, whether the Postmaster General is aware that the established duties still range over a period of 15 hours daily.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonThe auxiliary postmen at Tooting, to whom the hon. Member refers, do not work five hours a day, and are therefore not entitled to the privileges of boot allowance, sick pay, and holidays. The payment which they received in respect of boot allowance was made under a misapprehension by the local postmaster, and there was no alternative but to call upon the men to refund it. The Postmaster General is aware that some of the established duties at Tooting range over a period of 15 hours a day. At present this is unavoidable, but whenever opportunity offers the period will be considered. As, however, these men live close to their work they have practically the nine hours of unbroken rest, which the Tweedmouth Committee recommended.