§ 34. Mr. HOGGEasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Mr. J. S. Simpson, a sorting clerk and telegraphist at Edinburgh, was retained on duty for four hours without pay, and was officially warned by the Controller because of the temporary loss of a registered letter; whether he is aware that the temporary loss was due to the inadequate accommodation provided and the pressure under which the Edinburgh staff were compelled to work; whether Mr. Simpson was repeatedly refused permission to leave the office to obtain food: with the result that he was without sustenance from until his release at 5 p.m.; whether the accommodation has since been increased to meet the requirements of the work, as a result of a plan which had been under consideration for a number of years; and whether, seeing that there is no legal justification to warrant the action of the Post Office authorities in compelling a post office servant to remain on duty with out pay, he will give instructions for the payment of the amount due to Mr. Simpson for the excess period of four hours?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Pike Pease)Mr. Simpson remained on duty to assist in tracing a registered letter for whose loss he was responsible, and I can see no ground for making any payment to him. in respect of the time in question. He was not pre vented from obtaining food. The accommodation at the date in question is reported to have been sufficient. The recent alterations in the registered letter office was part of general rearrangement, was planned several years ago, and had no connection with this incident.