§ MR. BOLAND (Kerry, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that Cornelius O'Shea, rural auxiliary postman between Cahirdaniel and Castle Cove, county Kerry, has received no increase of pay since April, 1897, although, through the extension of the house-to-house delivery, his work has been increased to the extent of one and a half hours daily; and, seeing that the daily duties, Sundays excepted, of this postman involve four and a half hours of practically continuous walking, 448 and that he receives no boot money, whether under the circumstances an increase of pay, which is at present 9s. 6d. per week, will be granted.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINSince his appointment as rural auxiliary in January, 1898, Cornelius O'Shea's hours of duty have been four and a quarter a day. Originally his four and a quarter hours of duty included an interval of one hour and forty minutes, during which he remained at the end of his walk. By the extension of the delivery the interval has now been reduced to less than half an hour; but as he has been paid all along at the full rate for four and a quarter hours work, the Postmaster General regrets that no increase in his wages would be justified. He is not entitled to boot allowance.