§ MR. THOMAS SMYTH (Leitrim, S.)To ask the Postmaster-General if he will inquire into the case of Thomas Reilly, who has been in the postal service for seventeen years, and at present is rural postman from Mohill to Annaghmore, in county Leitrim; whether he will allow him 3s. per week increase of pay, which has been given to other rural postmen; and if he will grant him the two additional good conduct badges to which he is entitled.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I find that Thomas Reilly would have been entitled to an increase of 1s. 6d. a week in his wages as from the 1st of April, 1905, if his conduct during the preceding twelve months had been satisfactory. Unfortunately the necessary certificate to that effect could not be given; but the question of granting the increase to Reilly will come up again for consideration shortly. Reilly holds one good conduct stripe, and in ordinary course a second stripe would become due to him on the 27th of April next if it could be certified that he had rendered five years' unblemished service since the date of the last award, 27th April, 1901. This certificate, however, cannot be given, and it will be necessary to postpone for a time the award of a second stripe.