§ MR. NANNETTII beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that several auxiliaries are employed in the Dublin Post Office at primary sorting for two hours each evening; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of employing the staff engaged as learners on this work; and will he say whether these auxiliaries passed any technical or other examination; what is the salary paid to them; and whether the salaries paid to the learners while waiting for appointment could be augmented by employing them to do this work; and will he explain why two messengers, a paper-keeper, and a boy copyist from the secretary's office are performing overtime at the same class of work.
LORD STANLEYThe employment of some auxiliary sorters at Dublin in the evening is necessary to provide for duties vacated by learners who are being employed as substitutes for sorting clerks and telegraphists. These minor duties cannot be assigned to other learners, as they are not then available. The auxiliaries, who are paid 4½d. an hour, are not required to pass any technical or educational examination before employment; nor is it necessary that they should do so, inasmuch as the work they perform is of a very simple character. The persons drawn from the secretary's office, to whom the hon. Member refers, are employed between 6.0 p.m. and 7.0 p.m., during which period no learners are available.
§ MR. NANNETTIAre not these learners receiving the magnificent wage or 6s. per week, and will the noble Lord see that they get overtime pay as well as the auxiliaries who receive 15s. weekly.
LORD STANLEYI could not hear or understand the hon. Member's Question. Perhaps he will put it down.
§ MR. NANNETTII did not speak in Irish, anyway.