MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether it is intended to make applicable to provincial postmen the order recently issued to postmen in certain London 383 offices by which men at present holding one or more stripes will be allowed to count for further stripes their previous auxiliary or unestablished service; whether provincial postmen, as well as London men, will come under the new regulation mentioned in the same order with regard to regaining stripes withdrawn for misconduct; and is he aware that the provisions of this new order are not being carried out in provincial offices?
§ MR. HANBURYYes, Sir. The regulations apply to all established postmen throughout the Kingdom. The Postmaster General is not aware of the omissions to carry out the regulations to which the hon. Member refers, and will be glad if he will give him details of these cases, so that he may investigate them.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the previous service of auxiliary or unestablished postmen performing duties of more than four hours daily, and paid out of the allowance to sub-postmasters, will count towards stripes; if not, what is the ground for the exclusion of this class of men?
§ MR. HANBURYGood conduct stripes are awarded to established postmen only, and auxiliary service is allowed to count as half-time towards stripes; but service paid for by allowances is not reckoned, as men so employed are not directly the servants of the Postmaster General, and he has no official records of their attendance and conduct.