§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General can he state the number of years during which Nicholas Ryder of Baltinglass, county Wicklow, has discharged the duties of auxiliary postman; what wage did he receive for the first year of his appointment, and how much per week is he now paid; on how many occasions since his appointment has a vacancy for an established postman occurred in the Baltinglass postal district; and whether Ryder may entertain any hope of being promoted to an established postman's position.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONRyder has been employed as an auxiliary postman for over nineteen years; he received 943 8s. a week for the first year, and he now receives 11s. a week. He is, of course, only employed part of his time. Only one vacancy for an established postman has occurred in the Baltinglass district since Ryder was first employed; and I fear that I can hold out no hope that it will be possible to promote Ryder to the establishment.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORIs it by paying this starvation wage of 11s. that the Post Office makes its annual profit of four millions sterling?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI do not think we make our profit in that way. This is not a full-time postman; he only works two or three hours daily.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORCould the right hon. Gentleman walk sixteen Irish miles in two or three hours? Is he aware that this unfortunate man, with his 11s. a week, has a wife and seven children to maintain?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThe man is paid the rate of wage current in the district. I am afraid I cannot go beyond that.