§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Postmaster-General what are the administrative reasons that have led to the reduction of head offices to the rank of sub-offices; and whether it is a corollary of changes for administrative reasons that the scale of wages should be lowered also?
The HON. MEMBERfurther asked the Postmaster-General whether the assistants at the 36 reduced head offices perform precisely the same duties as the sorting clerks and telegraphists at the same offices as the sorting clerks and telegraphists did prior to the reduction of the offices to the rank of sub-offices; and will he state on what 2440W grounds similar scales of pay are denied to assistants who are directly employed by the Department?
§ Mr. SYDNEY BUXTONI will answer both of my hon. Friend's questions together. The chief advantage of the changes is improvement of control. By placing small offices under closer control than is possible while they are head offices, the service is improved and the needs of the public are more promptly dealt with. The general effect of the change in status is to diminish responsibility, and to some extent the amount of work at the small offices concerned. In regard to the indoor staff at such offices, I have already stated that it is my intention to avoid introducing unestablished staff at salaried sub-offices, except to a very small extent in particular cases. Assistants who are directly employed by the Post Office receive the pay recommended for their class by the Parliamentary Committee. They are not employed to the same extent as sorting clerks and telegraphists on work of a responsible character.