§ 41. Mr. Hannahasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that postmasters of sub-post offices, paid by commission, get no allowance of any kind for holidays as do their salaried colleagues; and will he take steps to remedy this in-justice?
§ The Postmaster-General (Major Tryon)The conditions of appointment of scale payment sub-postmasters require them to make provision for the Post Office work throughout the year and their remuneration is assessed on this basis. A scale payment sub-post-master is not required to give personal service and is free to absent himself at any time, provided that he makes satisfactory arrangements for the conduct of his office during his absence. His position is thus in many respects not unlike that of a contractor, and there would not, in my opinion, be any justification for the provision of paid annual leave.
§ Mr. HannahAre not many of these sub-postmasters far too poor to make the necessary provision as things are at the present time?
§ Major TryonI do not think that the arrangement which very naturally my hon. Friend would welcome would be compatible with the conditions under which they conduct their business.