HC Deb 03 August 1899 vol 75 cc1293-4
MR. STEADMAN

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, if he will consider the case of Thomas Cooper, rural postman of Pease down St. John, near Bath, who, notwithstanding the announced policy of abolishing the system of fixed wages, is still kept on the fixed scale of 16s: weekly, whereas a second, rural postman at the same office is on scale and is receiving 19s. weekly, although he does an hour less duty daily.

MR. HANBURY

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in supposing that a policy of abolishing fixed wages for established rural postman has been adopted. Such is not the case, inasmuch as fixed wages are paid to rural postmen working from many of the smaller post offices. Pease down St. John is one of those offices, and Thomas Cooper is rightly paid fixed wages of 16s. a week. The other rural postman at the same office is on an obsolete scale rising to 19s. a week, for which fixed wages of 16s. will be substituted on a vacancy.