§ Mr. NANNETTIasked the Postmaster-General if an officer of the rank of superintendent is employed on Sunday duty in the Dublin sorting office, while no officer of that rank is employed in the instrument room that day; and will he say if it is the practice to employ officers of the rank of superintendent on Sunday duty in Class A offices in England and Scotland?
§ Mr. BUXTONAn assistant superintendent is in charge of the instrument room at Dublin on Sunday during the forenoon and evening. During the rest of the day an overseer is in charge. In the sorting office a superintendent is on duty on Sundays. The supervising staff on Sunday duty at Dublin and at other offices is determined in each case by the requirements of the work.
§ Mr. NANNETTIasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a petition was sent in by a section of the Dublin telegraph staff on the 24th ultimo asking that the department should look for volunteers for overtime; if he is aware that this request was refused by the acting controller; and if he will say if overtime is compulsory when volunteers are available?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe section of the Dublin telegraph staff who sent in the petition 199W alluded to were juniors, and the duties which they were called upon to perform on overtime during the period in question were only proper to junior officers. As the only volunteers available would have been senior officers, the acting controller rightly refused to accede to their request. He, however, arranged that a day's notice should be given to officers whose services would be required, and was prepared to release any officer so notified on condition that he provided a suitable substitute. Exceptional pressure prevailed during the week in question. Subject to exceptions due to the exigencies of the service, the rule is that overtime is not compulsory when suitable volunteers are available.