§ MR. SEALE-HAYNE (Devonshire,) AshburtonTo ask the Postmaster General why there are four different scales of pay in the Newton Abbot post office, although all the postmen are doing similar work; and whether, seeing that the cost of living is the same in that town as in the neighbouring towns of Teignmouth and Torquay, and in some respects higher, he will consider the desirability of according to the postmen of these three towns the same maximum of 24s. per week.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The town postmen at Newton Abbot were formerly on too high a scale. The wages were accordingly reduced some years ago, but the postmen then in the service were allowed to retain their old scale so long as they remain, and the new scale was applied to postmen who entered the service subsequently. This will account for there being temporarily two scales for town postmen at Newton Abbot. The rural postmen are, as is usual, upon a separate scale of wages; but I am not aware of any fourth scale, unless the payments to auxiliary postmen, which are at a lower rate, are referred to. It is not considered that there are sufficient grounds for placing the Newton Abbot postmen upon the same scale as those at seaside towns of summer resort like Torquay and Teignmouth.