§ MR. SKEWES-COX (Surrey, Kingston)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the Postmaster General has received petitions from the postmen of Richmond, Surrey, in 1900 and 1901 asking for an increased maximum; is he aware Mr. Lewin Hill produced a Table before the Tweedmouth Committee showing that postmen were better paid than police; whether in considering this request he has, in accordance with the rule as laid down by Mr. Lewin Hill, compared the Richmond postmen's pay with that of the Richmond police, seeing that the police are paid 35s., while the postmen's maximum is only 26s.; and seeing that the Secretary to the Treasury stated in the House on 20th February, 1899, that, where the cost of living was higher in proportion to the population, the Post Office was always ready to take them into consideration, and in view of the fact thas the police and all artisans and mechanics in Richmond are paid Metropolitan wages, will he place the Richmond postmen on the same scale as those of Putney and Wimbledon.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe Memorials were duly considered and answered. In the Postmaster General's opinion no increase in the present scale of wages at Richmond is called for. It should be remembered that in addition to their maximum pay of 26s. a week the postmen can, if well conducted, obtain six stripes carrying extra pay of 1s. a week for each five years of service, and they also receive uniform clothing, boot allowance, free medical attendance, and pension on retirement. There is no such Rule as that suggested in the Question; nor are the wages of postmen regulated by those paid to the police 566 But in fixing the postmen's scale due consideration is paid to all the local circumstances affecting the question.