§ MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)To ask the Postmaster-General, if he is aware that the superintending engineer at Manchester is bringing a mechanic on duty one and a half hours earlier than the stated hour for commencing duty and refuses to pay overtime for the extra time worked; and will he give instructions that overtime be paid.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The mechanic in question was brought on duty one hour before his usual time from the 20th to the 30th ultimo and released an hour before his usual time of departure; on the 31st ultimo and 1st instant, he was brought on duty an hour and a half before his usual time and released correspondingly early. His normal hours of duty were in no case exceeded, and the question of payment for overtime does not therefore arise.