§ MR. PATRICK. O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, whether he is aware that the male clerks in Ballina have to perform a duty extending from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m., and again from 8.30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and whether he would endeavour to rearrange the duty, inasmuch as, out of a staff of seven appointed hands, three only are told off for the performance of this heavy night duty; whether he is aware that the male sorting clerks and telegraphists in Ballina office are scarcely allowed any time for telegraph work, being in charge of the telegraph six hours only in every six weeks; and will the matter be inquired into with a view to giving the men a fair turn of telegraph work.
§ MR. HANBURYThere are two duties which include a portion of night work at the Ballina Post Office. The one referred to by the hon. Member includes three hours of night duty and the other includes two. As at present arranged the heavier duty is shared among three sorting clerks, to each of whom it falls in turn for two weeks in every six. They have an interval of nearly twelve hours between the periods of duty, and in no case does their attendance exceed eight hours. The Postmaster-General hopes, however, that it may be possible to somewhat improve the rotation of their night attendance, and is making further 1052 inquiry on the subject. Of the seven members of the staff mentioned three are women, for whom the night postal duties are not suitable, and the telegraph work is therefore mainly performed by them. It would not be practicable under present circumstances to make any material change in the allotment of this section of the duty.