§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, why town postman Paul, now of Enfield, has been refused payment of the arrears of pay for doing two duties, a midnight collection, and a station duty 638 on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings at Woodford Green between April and October, 1897; and is he aware that the claim for payment is based on the recommendation of the Tweedmouth Committee, that no period of duty should be reckoned at less than an hour; and that, although Paul has repeatedly claimed the arrears and been refused, his successor is being paid at the rate of two hours for doing exactly the same duties?
§ MR. HANBURYThe postman referred to by the honourable Member performed at Woodford Green a station trip occupying 30 minutes on four Saturday nights between April and October, 1897, in turn with other postmen, as part of his regular duty. The period of duty was reckoned as one hour; but, as the postman's total attendence for the week did not exceed the regulation limit, his claim for extra payment was properly refused. On a revision of the duties in October last, the duty in question was assigned to an assistant postman, as part of his regular duty, and paid for accordingly.