§ MR. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he will state what was 489 the amount of lavatory accommodation on the 1st April, 1897, and what it is now for the postmen at the East Central District Office; whether he is aware that the lavatories are also used by telegraph messengers, refreshment bar employees, and others, and, seeing that the library is available only to subscribers of all classes of postal employees belonging to the East Central District Office, the foreign and registered and other sections, will he state what the total number of these subscribers is, and when the additional retiring room space will be available for occupation.
(Answer.) On the 1st of April, 1897, he lavatory accommodation for the postmen at the eastern Central District Office contained sixteen washing basins. There are now twenty-nine basins. In 1897 there were eighteen water-closets used by the postmen and sorters; there are now fifteen closets for the postmen only. The lavatory is not used by telegraph messengers, and the refreshment branch servants only use it occasionally to draw water, but it seems that during the day time some telegraph messengers have improperly used the closets. The refreshment branch servants are provided for elsewhere. The number of subscribers to the library is understood to vary between 400 and 600, of whom about one-half are postmen. The additional retiring room referred to has already been occupied.—(Post Office.)