HC Deb 11 June 1901 vol 97 cc117-8
MR. MOONEY (Dublin County, S.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if his attention has been called to the fact that the telegraph staff at Dublin who performed duty on the 2nd of February, 1901, received extra pay for that day, a circular having been issued that for staff purposes it was to be regarded as a bank holiday; and whether, seeing that hitherto it has been the rule that when a bank holiday occurred during an officer's annual leave an additional day's leave has always been granted either at the expiration of that leave or at some other period during the year, he can explain why the extra day has been refused on this occasion.

* MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

The Postmaster General decided that, While those of his staff who were required to perform their ordinary duties on the 2nd February, the day of her. late Majesty's funeral, should receive extra payment, the alternative of holiday at another time could not be allowed, because in his judgment that was not a suitable way of observing an occasion of public mourning.

MR. MOONEY

Is it a fact that a member of the staff who was on holiday at the time has since applied for and obtained a day off in lieu?

* MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

If that were done it must have been an error.