§ MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that in 1890 the number of mail bags between Aden and Bombay was under 600, and that in 1904 it was nearly 1,800; that the reduction of time occupied in the passage increases the number of hours of work; and that complaints have been received from the employees of the sea post-office as to the work, the pay and promotion, and the unhealthy conditions on board the mail ships; if so, whether, seeing that since 1890 nearly 100 of these employees have left the service, he will make inquiry as to the reasonableness of the amount and conditions of the work.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) A similar Question was asked by Sir W. Wedderburn in 1899, and a Report was obtained from the Government of India, who considered that there was no reason to suppose that the work imposed on the sorters was excessive since, although the pressure for short periods is necessarily severe, the sorters have for the greater part of their time little or nothing to do. I will ask for a further report on the subject.