HC Deb 07 August 1899 vol 76 cc24-5
MR. STEADMAN (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, if he will inquire into the complaint of David Mackay, postman, of Brora, Sutherlandshire, that he was induced by the representations of the quartermaster and a sergeant of the Cameron Highlanders, in March last year, to give up his situation on the railway and to accept an appointment as postman, being informed by the military authorities that his pay would be 16s. rising by 1s. 6d. yearly to 23s. weekly, which statement was endorsed by the chief clerk at the Inverness Post Office; will he explain why, when Mackay had served a year, and applied for the increment, he was for the first time informed that he was appointed on a fixed wage of 16s., and not upon a scale; and whether the Post Office, while admitting the fault was on the side of the military authorities, decline to place this man on a scale wage.

MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)

I beg at the same time to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, if he has considered the case of David Mackay, postman, of Brora, who complains that he was induced to enter the postal service by a sergeant of the Cameron High- landers, on the understanding that he would receive a commencing wage of 18s. weekly, whereas he has been placed on a fixed wage of 16s., and has been told that the Post Office cannot be held responsible for the mistake made by the sergeant as to the amount of pay.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HANBURY,) Preston

The wages authorised for the Brora and Balmacoil walk, on which David MacKay is employed, are 16s. a week (fixed pay); this was stated when application was made to the War Office for a soldier candidate for the vacant walk, and Mackay, on his appointment in May, 1898, signed the usual form in which the wages were correctly given; the quartermaster and the clerk at Inverness Post Office, to whom reference is made, deny that they informed Mackay that he would receive more than 16s. a week, and until the receipt of his application in May, 1899, for an increase in wages, it was not known to the Department that he was under any misapprehension in the matter. The Post Office do not admit any mistake, either of their own or of the War Office.