asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the discontent among sub-postmasters because of their meagre allowance and the prohibition on their taking strike action; and, if so, if he will arrange independent arbitration for them at the earliest possible date on the same lines as that applicable to other State employees.

52.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is prepared to set up a scheme of conciliation and arbitration for sub-postmasters in view of the many major grievances of sub-postmasters which could be solved by such a system.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions 51 and 52 together.

The Sub-Postmasters' Consultative Council was set up in 1956 to provide a means of regular consultation between representatives of the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs and of the Sub-Postmasters' Union on matters affecting the remuneration and conditions of service of sub-postmasters. The remuneration of sub-postmasters has been fully discussed by the Council in recent years and substantial increases have been granted following agreements reached with the Union.

Claims by the Union in regard to other conditions of Service are at present the subject of discussion at the Council.

Sub-postmasters are contractors paid on the basis of volume of work done at their offices and they are not required to give personal service. Accordingly, it is not proposed to introduce arbitration for them.

Is the Minister aware that the majority of sub-postmasters feel that they are not being adequately paid for their labour and also that the present system of meeting their views, as it was established by the Minister's late predecessor, gives them no option but to accept the Department's ruling? Is the Minister aware that there is serious discontent and that in many cases they have a genuine grievance?

The Deputy is making a statement.

Would the Minister reconsider the whole question and give these people some sort of arbitration such as Civic Guards, civil servants and school teachers have?

Arbitration for sub-postmasters has been resisted since 1949, when the Union first made a claim, for the reasons I have stated. They do not come within the same category as the civil servants quoted. They are paid from £91 12s. 0d. a year to £1,649 a year according to the volume of work done. The reasons for which arbitration for sub-postmasters was resisted in 1949 and 1956 are still considered valid and I cannot accede to the request made by the Deputy.

Would the Minister say if it is not a fact that the Sub-postmasters' Union has no remedy where the Department turns down a claim?

The basis of employment of sub-postmasters is different from the basis of employment of civil servants. They know the conditions and remuneration attached to the office before they take it up and it is a fact that they do accept the conditions attached to the office. I must say that there is no evidence that there is any dissatisfaction on their part.

Is the Minister aware—

This could go on for ever. This is the fourth supplementary that has been asked.

It is the first one I have asked.

I shall allow the Deputy one supplementary.

The Minister stated that sub-postmasters earn from £91 to over £1,000 but the Minister failed to state that the sub-postmasters have to pay their own staffs.

I know that.