§ MR. YOXALLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he can arrange for the vacancies on postmen's walks at Nottingham to be exhibited on the notice board in the letter carriers' room, with a view to the senior men having the first choice, as the practice has been for years at centres such as London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Brighton, Liverpool, Sheffield, Birmingham, Hull, Dublin, and Belfast; whether in the public interest, he can abolish the practice of appointing men by rotation on different walks in diverse parts of the town, and thus avoid the confusion experienced under existing arrangements; and whether he can arrange the duties in such a manner that the Tweedmouth recommendation of nine hours rest at home out of the twenty-four may be carried into effect.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe practice of advertising such vacancies on a notice board does not exist at most of the towns mentioned, nor is it necessary in order to secure that the senior men should have the first choice in regard to any vacant walk. At present it is a matter of local arrangement in each case, and it is proposed to allow it to remain so. The system of employing men partly on outer walks and partly on inner walks was adopted at Nottingham to prevent any postman being obliged to walk an excessive distance. No confusion is caused by it, and it is proposed to continue it. The duties are arranged as far as possible with the view of allowing each man nine hours rest per diem, and in the few cases in which it has not yet been possible to secure this end, measures are being taken to secure it.