§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an unestablished postman at Quin, County Clare, works more than eight hours a day, but is denied an opportunity of being placed upon the established staff on the ground that he is neither an ex-telegraph messenger nor an ex-soldier; and whether in view of the recommendation of the Hobhouse Committee on auxiliary labour in Ireland, and seeing that the extent of the postman's duties is due to the natural growth of postal work, he will issue instructions that this postman be either placed on the established staff or, if that be impossible, treated as a full-time unestablished man.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The postman referred to has been employed since June, 1904, on an auxiliary post, occupying three hours fifty minutes a day; since June last he has also been temporarily employed on a vacant auxiliary post occupying four and a half 218 hours a day. This temporary addition to his work cannot be regarded as due to the natural growth of his duties; and, under a revision of the postal arrangements at Quin which has recently been sanctioned, I regret I cannot do more than offer him employment on a part-time post.