MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, on I what grounds certain postmen (formerly designated as porters) employed in the parcel sorting department at Edinburgh, have had withheld from them the increase of wages which usually accompanies promotion to the postmen's class; why! they have not been granted the customary boot allowance, as from April, 1897; on what ground they do not have precedence on the wages sheet over postmen appointed subsequent to April, 897, the period from which their transfer to the postmen's class was to date; and whether he is aware that officers in the Dublin office who held similar positions to the change in 1897 have had granted them all the privileges which the Edinburgh men complain have been withheld from them.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HANBURY, Preston)The porters at Edinburgh to whom the hon. Member refers were transferred to the Postmen's Class on 1st April, 1899, and not on 1st April, 1897. They have received from 1st April, 1899. the wages and boot allowance to which they are entitled, and they rank on the Postmen's Class according to the date of transfer.