§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he proposes to abolish the surveyorship of the Home District; and, if so, whether he will take the opportunity of extending the London postal area to a twelve-mile radius from Charing Cross; (2) asked whether the postmen in Hanwell, which is in the London area, receive an average of 6s. weekly more than their fellows at Twickenham, Hounslow, Isleworth, Brentford, and Southall, which are just outside the London area; whether the cost of living 1641 at Twickenham, Hounslow, Isleworth, Brentford, and Southall has, by the extension of London, now become quite as high as the cost of living at Hanwell; and, if so, whether the right hon. Gentleman will take into consideration the claim of the Twickenham, Hounslow, Isleworth, Brentford, and Southall postmen for a revision of their rates; (3) whether in all other trades than the Post Office in London trade union rates of wages are paid in Twickenham, Hounslow, Isleworth, Brentford, and Southall; whether in the case of work done for the Post Office by contractors in these towns they are obliged, under the Fair-Wages Clause of the late Postmaster-General, to pay London rates of wages; and, if so, whether the Postmaster-General will pay similar London rates to the workers in the Post Office itself?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The Home Surveying District was abolished on the 1st instant and the towns surrounding London were absorbed in the other provincial surveying districts on the same date. The wages of the postmen in London and in the towns referred to by the hon. Member were fixed in 1908 in accordance with the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee, who were aware of the present line of demarcation between London and the provinces, and based their recommendations on the assumption that no change would be made in the existing boundary. In these circumstances I regret that I am unable to include the towns mentioned in the London Postal area. The cost of living was taken into full consideration in fixing the present wages. I am aware that in some trades the London rates of pay are applicable within a radius of twelve miles from Charing Cross, but the practice is not universal.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSDoes the right hon. Gentleman dispute that the cost of living is as great in those towns as it is in London; if so, why are not those postmen paid the London rates?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELWages in the Post Office do not depend solely on the cost of living. One of the recommendations of the Hobhouse Committee was that they should depend partly on the cost of living and also on the nature of the work.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSSo far as the wages depend on the cost of living why should they not have that fact considered?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe present scale of pay in those towns is based to some extent on the cost of living. The cost of living in those towns is taken into consideration.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked whether the age limit for special employment for Christmas work in the Post Office is 45; and, if so, whether he will take steps to have it extended to at least 55?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe Christmas work in the Post Office is often of an exacting nature. My predecessor raised the limit of age from forty to forty-five. It would not be advisable to extend it further as a general rule.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEasked what percentage of telegraph messengers annually appointed are under the age of fourteen; and what educational qualifications are required in such cases?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe latest figures showing the percentage asked for are two and a-half years old, and the conditions have now changed. But I have the number of telegraph messengers who were under fourteen in the service on 30th September last, namely, 681 out of 13,918, or slightly under 5 per cent. Preference is given to boys who have passed Standard Seven, and all entrants under fourteen years of age are required to furnish a certificate of exemption from further school attendance.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEDoes not the present method of receiving boys under the age of fourteen really mean that the boys with brains are tempted to leave school prematurely, and will the Postmaster-General consider the advisability of limiting the age of fourteen?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI think that is a matter of argument. I could not very well answer it in question and answer.