§ Mr. ALBERT SMITHasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the increased cost of living in the following towns, or any of them, he will consider the question of restoring the standard of wages to postmen to the rates previously existing prior to the issue of the Hob-house Report: Accrington, Blackburn, Burnley, Colne, Nelson, Clitheroe, Darwen, Rawtenstall, Skipton, Settle, and Todmorden?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe scales to which the hon. Member refers were revised in pursuance of the recommendations of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants, and I regret that I am unable to restore them. No individual postman has suffered a reduction of his maximum wages as a result of the re-classification. The reduced maxima apply only to new entrants after 1st January, 1908, and all the postmen participated in the benefits derived from the other recommendations of the Committee (e.g. improvements in stripes, Bank Holiday pay, Night duty allowance, etc.).