MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been drawn to a memorial received by the Controller, Dublin, over three months ago, from members of the Dublin staff complaining of punishments for the mis-sending of letters, alleging that the increase in mis-sending was due to insufficiency of time at roads, and the quick rate at which p.m. despatching officers have to sort correspondence, the sorting of letters on the new divisions, and asking that letter-despatching officers be exempt from sorting at the primary tables in the evening; and can he state whether the memorial has been acknowledged yet; and if so, with what result.
§ MR. HANBURYThe memorial was duly received and acknowledged by the Controller, Dublin. Inquiry has shown that some additional force is necessary on evening duty in the Dublin Sorting Office, and steps are being taken to afford relief. For the present extra staff is brought on duty whenever it is known that the work will be heavier than the average. The bulk of the mis-sending is found to be confined to comparatively few men, and increases when these men are on duty. No record of mis-sending is made against any officer when there is any doubt as to his responsibility.