§ Dr. ADDISONasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Messrs. M'Namara and Company, mail contractors, of Castle Street, Finsbury, employ men on pair-horse services for seventy-two hours a week at 27s. a week, other men on single-horse services for seventy-two hours a week for 25s. a week, early morning part-services of double shifts for from 18s. to 20s. a week, odd men at 4d. per hour, and Sunday work for part-services and odd men at the same rate; and, in view of the fact that these rates of wages are in all cases less than 6d. per hour, what steps he proposes to take in the matter to enforce the payment of fair wages by contractors to His Majesty's Government?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The wages paid to their drivers by the mail cart contractors referred to by the hon. Member for a full duty of seventy-two hours a week are those settled in 1907 as satisfying the requirements of the Fair Wages Clause. In addition the drivers receive uniform, the prime cost of which amounts to over 1s. 3d. a week. During a considerable part of the period of employment the men are not actually engaged driving, but are waiting. These wages and hours compare favourably with those of other employers who are not contractors to the Post Office, and show a considerable improvement on conditions prevailing under Post Office contracts prior to 1907. The question of improving the conditions of employment of the other drivers, part-time and casual, referred to by the hon. Member, has already been engaging my attention, and early this month I caused a communication to be addressed to these contractors on the subject.
§ Dr. ADDISONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will kindly say what weekly wages these men actually receive and also whether he is aware that the conditions of work as regards the men engaged in the part-services are such that it is not possible for them at any time to have more than eight hours off duty?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI was not aware of what the hon. Member states in the last part of the question, but I will inquire into the matter. As regards wages, I believe the statement in the question is correct.
§ Dr. ADDISONasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Messrs. M`Namara and Company, mail contractors, of Castle Street, Finsbury, are in the habit of requiring their men to return their old uniforms, trousers excepted, on the issue of new clothes, and that men have been fined for not doing so; by what authority are they entitled to require the return of old uniforms or to impose fines in the case of their non-return; and what becomes of the money received in fines and of the old uniforms returned?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe existing contract with Messrs. M`Namara and Company does not provide for old uniforms being retained by the men, and the contractors have been allowed to renovate and use them for casual drivers, for whom special uniforms are not supplied. In cases where uniforms have not been returned fines have been imposed by the contractors to balance the loss they have thereby incurred. Proposals are under consideration which may make it possible for drivers in the regular employment of the London mail cart contractors to retain their old uniforms.
§ Dr. ADDISONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether other firms doing work of this kind divide the money for the benefit of the men, and whether they render any account of the money they receive in fines?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELYes, Sir.
§ Dr. ADDISONasked the Postmaster-General if he will inform the House as to the conditions under which odd men have to wait at Messrs. M`Namara's and Company, mail contractors, Castle Street, Finsbury, from 1.45 a.m. onwards, of the accommodation provided for them in wet and cold weather, and of the number of men in general for whom accommodation is required?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe casual drivers who attend Messrs. M`Namara's premises at 1.45 a.m. receive a retaining fee of 8d. for the attendance alone, and take their turn upon the work which falls to this class of drivers according to the position they secure on the list by means of drawing lots. They use the kitchen on 600 the contractors' premises appropriated to the drivers, of whom there are about thirty. The room is sufficiently large to accommodate this number, and a fire is provided during the winter months. A caterer is, I understand, in attendance to furnish the men with refreshment at low prices.
§ Dr. ADDISONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the whole circumstances in which these men are employed, and also whether it would not be possible for the Post Office to undertake the work?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo, Sir; there are very serious objections to the Post Office undertaking any of the mail cart work. One reason is that it would require a large capital expenditure for the erection of places where the carts might be kept and for the stabling of the horses. That is an expenditure which we think should not be undertaken at a time when motor traction is still in process of development.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDIs it not a fact that a Departmental Committee suggested that the chiefs of the Post Office should make the inquiry suggested by the hon. Member for Hoxton?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI did not gather what inquiry the hon. Member desires me to make.
§ Mr. J. WARDIs it not a fact that the Department could perform the work much better than contractors?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe reason I have stated and other reasons preclude the Department from undertaking this work.
§ Dr. ADDISONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will consider the possibility of having an inquiry into the whole circumstances of employment in the case of this particular firm?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThere is an inspector in the Post Office who does nothing else but inquire into conditions of work under contractors. He is in touch with the contractors to the Post Office, and we are fully informed as to the conditions of employment under this firm. I have in the last few weeks made representations to that firm in respect of certain abuses, or what appeared to be abuses, arising in their employment, and I am awaiting their reply.
§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire at the County Council whether their places could be made available for stabling horses if the Department undertook this work?