§ Dr. ADDISONasked the Postmaster-General whether in future contracts with mail cart drivers, such as Messrs. M'Namara and Company, of Castle Street, Finsbury, he will insert a condition to the effect that part-time and odd drivers, employed at present at the rate of 5d. and 4½d. per hour, respectively, shall be paid a wage of at least 6d. per hour, having regard to the number of hours during which these men have to be available for duty, and to the other disadvantages attaching to the conditions of their employment; and whether he will require that these men shall be employed by the week and not by the day?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)I have already decided that payment for work of at least 6d. an hour for part-time and odd drivers shall be a condition of any future contract for mail cart services in London; but I fear that the exigencies of the service, varying a" they do from day to day, will not admit of my requiring the contractors to employ these men by the week instead of by the 607 day. The contractors are, however, urged to limit such employment as much as possible, and the proportion of casual labour employed is now small.