§ Mr. ANDERSONasked the Postmaster General whether he is now in a position to make a statement concerning the War bonus for postal employés?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe Government I have given very careful consideration to the request of the National Joint Committee of Postal and Telegraph Associations that a war bonus should be granted to postal employés with salaries below £210 per annum in order to meet the abnormal cost of living produced by the War. The Government have decided that 215W the rise in the cost of living is not by itself a sufficient reason, at the present time, for increasing the wages of their employés. They regard this rise as a burden which must be shared in common by all classes in the country. Compliance with this request from postal servants would entail corresponding grants to all Civil servants of a similar status and would therefore impose, at a time of great financial pressure, a charge so great upon the Exchequer that the Government do not consider they would be justified in doing it.