§ VISCOUNT TURNOUR (Sussex, Horsham)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is in a position to state the result of his promised inquiry into the action of his Department in asking telegraphists at Horsham to perform overtime at less than the regulation rate; and whether instructions are to be issued that no supervising official shall in the future attempt to induce his subordinates to accept payment for work performed at a price less than that laid down by the Treasury.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) It was proposed to keep open the telephone exchange on Sundays at Horsham. The duty involved was an extremely light one of a very simple character. Practically it was a watching duty, which in the ordinary course, and elsewhere, is paid by a small special allowance. The offer made to the staff was misunderstood. The particular duty is not a duty proper to or performed by a sorting clerk and telegraphist as such, and there is no question of overtime involved. It was thought by the postmaster that some of the staff might like to perform the duty. But no pressure whatever was put upon any officer, acceptance or refusal of the offer was entirely voluntary. I may add that it has been decided that the keeping open of the telephone office at Horsham on Sundays was not justified by the expense involved.