§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Postmaster-General whether the Post Office authorities disclaim all responsibility for the wages of sub-office assistants; whether he or his officials informed the Arbitration Board that the consideration of the wages of such assistants were outside the terms of reference of that body; whether the sub-postmasters have received a war increase, and, if so, to what extent; whether the assistants have been unable to secure a proportionate increase ; and whether he will state to what tribunal these persons who are solely engaged upon Post Office work can appeal?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHAssistants at scale payment sub-offices are the employés of the sub-postmasters, and are, therefore, outside the terms of reference to the Civil Service Arbitration Board, which relate only to employés of Government Departments. They are for the most part not engaged exclusively upon Post Office work. Scale payment sub-postmasters have been granted war bonuses corresponding generally to those granted to permanent Civil servants, but I am not aware to what extent the sub-400W postmasters have increased the remuneration of their assistants. The increases granted no doubt vary at different sub-offices. Sub-office assistants are analogous to other shop assistants, whose wages, so far as I know, are not regulated by any tribunal.