§ MR. HART-DAVIESI beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether orders have been passed which involve an attendance from 4 a.m. for the Central London postmen; and whether, seeing that the object of this change could have been equally attained by placing a comparatively small increase of the staff on midnight duty, 12 to 7 a.m., and the inconvenience caused to the general body of City postmen thus avoided, he proposes to take any action in the matter.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONIn consequence of the great increase in the work, and the consequent delay in delivery it has become necessary in the interests of the public in the Eastern Central district 762 to arrange for a certain number of men to attend at 4.0 a.m. I regret that this is necessary, but I may mention that the new arrangement affects 238 only out of the 1,356 postmen in the district, and that, as a set off, the duties generally have been greatly improved by reductions in the number of separate attendances. The object of the change could not be secured by increasing the staff on duty from midnight to 7.0 a.m. as the work for which the men are required consists largely of preparing correspondence for delivery, and must necessarily be done by the men who are to perform the delivery. Men attending from midnight to 7.0 a.m. would be off duty before the delivery commenced and much of the correspondence concerned is not received until about 4.0 a.m. If this alteration is found to operate harshly in any individual case the matter will be favourably considered with a view to affording relief.
§ MR. HART-DAVIESDoes the change apply to any other postal districts in London?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONNo, it specially affects E.C. A large number of people desire to have their letters earlier, and there seems no possible alternative to bringing on a certain staff of men earlier.