§ MR. STEADMAN (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if arrangements can be made to curtail on Bank Holidays the period during which rural postmen usually have to wait at the end of their outward journey before making the afternoon collections and returning home, the collection being expedited without being altogether abandoned, so that the men might thus gain some small share of the public holiday.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HANBURY, Preston)On Bank holidays rural postmen are, as a rule, allowed to return from the end of their walks early in the day. If the hon. Member can quote any case in which this rule is not observed the Postmaster General will be glad to consider whether the hours of duty can be curtailed. He fears, however, that public complaint would arise if rural postmen were permitted to return on Hank Holidays, as on Good Friday, immediately after completing the delivery. On Good Friday and Christmas Day the rural postmen return at once from the end of their walks when they have completed their delivery, clearing the boxes of any letters that may have been posted. On Sundays they return after waiting not less than one hour. On Bank Holidays they may return as on Sundays.