§ Mr. NANNETTIasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that three officers in the Dublin sorting office were called upon to perform the following duties on the 15th of January last, from 12 mid-
night to 7.10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 2.45 p.m., from 12 midnight to 9.5 a.m. and 10.45 a.m. to 2.37 p.m., from 12 midnight to 4.45 a.m. and 10.45 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.; is he aware that all these duties covered periods of over twelve hours; can he state whether the necessity for midnight and midday duties arises from the recently introduced duty scheme or from a shortage of staff; and will he arrange, either by the intro- 1411W duction of a better arranged duty scheme or by an increase of staff, that no further necessity will arise for such hours of attendance?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe extended attendances given by the three officers concerned were due to the arrival of a heavy American mail, and were in no way attributable to the recently introduced duty scheme or to shortness of staff. I do not propose to alter the present arrangements. None of the three officers has made any complaint of the extra duty which he was asked to perform.