§ MR. HOULT (Cheshire, Wirrall)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he is aware that the maximum pay of new entrants into the town postmen's class at Birkenhead and district has been reduced from 30s. per week to 28s.; and seeing that Birkenhead is practically a residential suburb of Liverpool and forms part of the Port of Liverpool, the cost of living and labour being the same in both towns, can he state on what grounds the reduction has been made.
MR. AUSTEN CHAMBEELAINThe Postmaster General has decided that the maximum pay of new entrants to the town postmen's class at Birkenhead shall be 28s. instead of 30s. a week, because the lower sum more nearly corresponds with the scale of wages paid at other towns of similar size and importance to Birkenhead.