MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, whether the Postmaster-General received, in April last, a petition from the postmen of Limerick asking to be placed on a higher scale of pay, to place them on an equality with the postmen in Cork, as their scale and duties are the same, although their pay is 2s. per week lower 1053 than the pay of the Cork postmen, and the cost of living in Limerick is quite as high as in Cork; whether the petition has been considered and replied to; and whether he intends to grant the increase of pay asked for.
§ MR. HANBURYThe petition has been duly received. The question was examined by the Postmaster-General as recently as March, 1898, in connection with a previous memorial, and he decided that no increase of wages was warranted at Limerick. As the circumstances are unchanged, this decision must be maintained. The general higher rate of labour wages at Cork, and the greater size and importance of the town are considered to justify the payment of the Cork postmen on a higher scale.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the conditions of life, the expense of food and clothing, and the house rents arc as costly in one place as the other?
§ MR. HANBURYAll that is no doubt taken into account.