§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that the scale of pay of adult messengers in the General Post Office has not been revised during a period of 35 years, and, having regard to the fact that their position both as to pay and prospects of promotion is far worse than it would have been had they remained in the branches from which they were specially selected, will he consider the expediency of arranging for some substantial improvement in their position?
§ MR. HANBURYThe scale of pay for adult messengers in the General Post Office, which has remained unaltered, as the hon. Member states, for 35 years, has now been revised on the recommendation of Lord Tweedmouth's Committee, and runs from 24s., by 1s. 6d. to 40s. a week, instead of from 21s., by 1s. to 40s. These officers voluntarily entered their present class, and it is impossible to go into the question whether they would have been better off had they remained in other branches of the Service.