§ MR. CLOUGH (Yorkshire, W.R., Skipton)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether regulations have been issued for clocks to be provided in all post offices for the use of the public; whether these are to be provided at the expense of the Department or of the sub-postmasters; and whether increments in the salaries of sub-postmasters of several years standing are being used to bring pressure upon these sub-postmasters to provide the clocks at their own expense, although this condition was not in their original agreements.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONIn May, 1903, instructions were issued that all newly appointed sub-postmasters, as a condition of their appointment, and as part of their undertaking to supply 891 satisfactory accommodation, should be required to supply clocks visible to the public. These instructions do not apply to those sub-postmasters who were appointed prior to May, 1903. There is no record of any case in which pressure has been brought to bear on a sub-postmaster in the circumstances mentioned by the hon. Member.