§ MR. J. P. FARRELL () Longford, N.To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is prepared to consider any representations for the improvement of the present salaries and positions of sub-postmasters in Ireland; whether he is aware that a sub-postmaster handling £20,000 a-year of public money is only paid a salary of £74 a year, out of which he has to provide a competent assistant, an office fire, light, twine, and sealing-wax, leaving him about £10 a year for himself by way of salary; and whether he would be prepared to consider a graduated scheme for emolument based upon the amount of business transacted in each office.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) I have recently sanctioned a scheme under which the remuneration at some of the sub-offices throughout the United Kingdom, especially the smaller ones, will be improved, and instructions are being issued to give effect to it as soon as possible. Without fuller particulars I am unable to identify the case to which the hon. Member specially refers. The emoluments at a sub-office are based upon the total amount of business transacted. In addition to the salary, commissions are
† See (4) Debates cxviii., 1542.600 paid upon postal order, money order, savings bank, and telegraph business, where transacted; so that it by no means follows that the salary of a sub-postmaster represents his total emoluments.