Mr. T. F. RICHARDSasked the Postmaster-General whether he can give the number of hours worked and the wages paid to the mail-cart drivers in the following towns:—Dublin, Liverpool, Manchester, Belfast, Sheffield, Cardiff, Portsmouth, Exeter, Plymouth, Bournemouth, Peterborough, Leeds, Bristol, and Birmingham?
§ Mr. SYDNEY BUXTONThe wages and hours of work that prevailed when the last inquiries were made, and those which were instituted as the result of those inquiries, are as follows:—
Town. Date of enquiry. At time of enquiry. After enquiry. Weekly hours. Weekly wages. Weekly hours. Weekly wages. Dublin June, 1906 83 to 35 18/- About 72 19/- first 6 mos. 20/- afterwards. Liverpool January, 1909 50 to 105 (at 3¾d. an hour.) 15/8 to 32/10 72 hours or less (work in excess of 72 hours—4½d. an hour.) 24/6 single horse 27/6 pair horse. Manchester September, 1906 About 77 18/- to 22/- About 72 20/- to 24/-. Belfast October, 1907 About 65 20/- About 60 20/- first 6 mos. 21/6 afterwards. Sheffield April, 1906 About 80 20/- to 22/6 About 72 23/-. Cardiff August, 1906 About 87 18/- 60 to 72 22/-. Portsmouth July, 1908 71 to 80 18/- About 72 21/-. Exeter November, 1907. 63 and 65 16/- single horse 63 and 65 19/- single horse. 18/- pair horse. 21/- pair horse. Plymouth July, 1908 About 69 About 18/- About 69 20/-. Bournemouth September, 1908 About 63 18/- to 21/- About 63 21/- first year. 22/- afterwards. Bristol December, 1907 58½ 21/- 58½ 21/-. In all these cases the drivers are provided with uniforms, the value of which is regarded as equal to about 1s. a week. The conditions at Leeds and Peterborough are under further inquiry. As regards Birmingham I have received no representations that the Fair Wages Clause is being infringed. It should be noted that the weekly hours given are not the hours of actual work but the hours of attendance.