HC Deb 18 June 1900 vol 84 cc294-5
MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether Sunday duty in the General Post Office, which has hitherto been performed by volunteers, will in future be compulsory on all the staff; whether the work at present done on Sundays is more than can be performed by the number of volunteers at present available; and whether the Post Office authorities are actually removing from Sunday duties those who have volunteered to perform them, and are forcing these duties upon men who conscientiously object to work on Sunday.

MR. HANBURY

Sunday duty will in future be compulsory on all members of the staff of the Circulation Office who entered the service on the condition that they would be liable to such duty. This condition was first imposed in 1898. At present the work on Sundays is more than can be performed by the volunteers available unless some, at any rate, of them attend every Sunday, and regular service seven days a week is not desirable either in the interests of the Department or of the men themselves. Such officers as may desire to avoid attendance on Sundays are at liberty to provide approved substitutes.

MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)

Is there any limit as to this duty?

MR. HANBURY

Does the hon. Member mean with regard to the number of Sundays or the period of duty?

MR. CHANNING

Both.

MR. HANBURY

A man may not do it more often than every other Sunday, and I believe the duty is limited to five hours.