§ Lord NINIAN CRICHTON-STUARTasked the Postmaster-General whether the extension of meal reliefs to all the indoor staff means that the hours are reduced from forty-eight per week to forty-five per week; whether he is aware that the surveying staffs are holding back proposals for giving this concession, and that in many offices, owing to this fact, nothing has yet been done; whether he is aware that surveyors are insisting that smaller offices shall be worked without increased staff, although the hours of labour are reduced; and whether he is satisfied that delays to counter business, telegrams, and telephones will not be increased as a result?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe effect of the concession is to reduce the net working hours in the manner indicated. It was recognised that it would necessarily be some considerable time before the adjustment of duties involved by the new arrangement could be made in every case, but I have no reason to suppose that there has been any avoidable delay. There will probably be many cases in which the benefits of the concession can be given without increase of staff, but there need be no apprehension that the efficiency of the service will be allowed to suffer in this connection.