§ MR. J. P. FARRELL () Cavan, W.I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, what are the hours of duty of the postmen in Longford; whether a man going on duty at 3 p.m. does not get off till 2 a.m., and has afterwards to be ready for mid-day delivery next day; whether when on duty on Sunday morning up to 2 a.m., and oftener later, he is paid anything extra for his Sunday work; whether an auxiliary postman could be employed to do the night turn delivery, commencing at 8 p.m.; and whether he will generally cause inquiry to be made into the conditions of employment in Longford.
§ MR. HANBURYTWO under eight hours and one of three hours thirty 384 minutes. There is no duty such as that described in the second paragraph. The postman who is on duty from midnight on Saturday to 2 a.m. on Sunday receives corresponding time off from midnight on Sunday to 2 a.m. on Monday. If an auxiliary were employed on the last delivery in place of one of the established postmen the average attendance of the two established postmen, who change duties weekly, would be reduced to much less than a full duty, and this would not be warranted. Inquiry will be made whether it may be practicable to readjust the attendance of one of the established postmen in order to give him a longer interval off duty.