§ MR. STEADMANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, if it is possible to abolish the split duties of the E.C. postmen, and to substitute an eight hours' continuous duty; has any at-tempt been made to carry out the recommendations of the Tweedmouth, Committee in regard to split duties; can he explain why, in the recent re vision of the 10th section, postmen's duties, the principle of allowing nine hours' unbroken rest in 24 has not been put in practice; and whether, in calculating postmen's hours of duty, any time allowance is made for travelling to and from the office in the case of split duties?
§ SIR J. GORST (for Mr. HANBURY)The nature of a, postman's work is such as to render, with very rare exceptions, a continuous duty impossible. The recommendations of the Tweedmouth Committee in regard to split duties were that they should be abolished where practicable, and that, where not practicable the officer performing split, duties should enjoy during each 24 hours nine clear unbroken hours at his own home. In the recent revision of the 10th section E.C. Postmen's Duties, arrangements have been made for allowing the men 10 clear hours off duty at night except on one night of the week (Friday), when the interval has to be curtailed to 9½ hours, owing to the necessities of the service on Saturday morning. In calculating postmen's hours of duty, no time allowance is made for travelling to and from the office.