MR. DUCROSTo ask the Postmaster-General whether the rule for giving assistance to postmen who may have above thirty-five pounds is intended to mean that a portion of the load may be transferred from one duty to another, or should a special delivery be made of the portion taken away to relieve a man; is he aware that the former method was adopted at St. Leonards-on-Sea on May 4th, No. 17 walk being relieved of some parcels which were transferred to No. 4 parcel duty, this duty thus being compelled to relieve another in spite of the fact that over fifty-two hours duty was worked on the latter duty during that week, and under these circumstances will overtime payment be made for the four hours.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) If a postman in a town is overburdened there is no reason why he should not be relieved by the transfer of part of his load to another postman on duty, provided, of course, that the second man is not thereby overburdened or his walk unduly prolonged. I will cause inquiry to be made as regards the particular case mentioned by the hon. Member and inform him of the result.