§ MR. ALFRED THOMAS (Glamorgan, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, will he explain why postmen of Pontypridd, performing similar duties to postmen in Swansea and Newport, are paid 4s. per week loss than those employed in the towns named; and whether he will take into consideration the case of the postmen of Pontypridd with a view of placing them upon an equality of treatment with, the postmen of Swansea and Newport?
§ MR. HANBURYThe reason why the maximum wages of postmen are higher at Swansea and Newport than at Pontypridd is that the two first mentioned towns are much larger, and this distinction is in accordance with the general rule of the Service under which the higher scales of wages are allocated to the large provincial towns. They start at the same wage of 18s. in all these three towns. It does not appear that any application respecting their wages has reached this Office from the postmen at Pontypridd through the regular official channel. Such an application would, of course, be duly considered.