§ Mr. MILDMAYasked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the desirability of providing that upon Coronation Day working hours in post offices and rural sub-offices throughout the Kingdom shall be assimilated to those prevalent on Sundays in order that many employés may not be debarred from taking part in the national rejoicings?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI am now considering the arrangements to be made for the transaction of Post Office work on Coronation Day, and will give due consideration to the hon. Member's suggestion.
§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked whether it was contemplated to issue an order permitting London workshops employing dressmakers, tailoresses, and milliners to keep the employés at work until 9 p.m.; if so, whether the order would affect girls from fourteen years of age upwards; and whether the decision to issue the order had been arrived at after consultation with the employers concerned?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)Application has been made to me on 611 behalf of the dressmaking and other trades, in view of the pressure of work which is likely to be occasioned by the Coronation, to allow the period of employment during May and June of this year to run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., instead of from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., as fixed by the Factory Act. The employers, in order to cope with the extra pressure, desire to work the full number of hours allowed by the Act, and in the special circumstances I have thought it reasonable to allow the temporary con cession asked for. The Order, following the precedent of the existing Order for laundries, will apply to young persons as well as to women. The Order does not in any way extend the hours of work legally permitted under the Act, and at present is issued in draft only.