Offices are thirty-three weekly, seated at a desk, with all holidays and Sundays off as a matter of course. In the post office, the hours are from 50 to 60 weekly, frequently extending far into the night or commencing abnormally early, and entailing considerable physical effort, most holidays, and 33% of Sundays also spent at work; except therefore for the higher posts, volunteers from other departments are unlikely to be numerous, and for them (the higher posts), long postal experience is necessary for efficiency.
M
415
25. In the lower divisions, $480 per annum, rising $60 a year to $720, is below the market wages, and until salaries are appreciably increased, I fear resignations will continue to be not infrequent, and the deterrent effect of fear of dismissal be much modified.
26. No attempt to juggle with figures has been made; neither the Assistant Postmaster General nor myself can do more. Comparisons have been furnished, local conditions and materials indicated, broad outlines alone have been sketched, with, I think, not undue prolixity, omitting nothing essential for the due consideration of a question of considerable magnitude to the Colony—the efficiency of the Postal Service.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
W.S.H. Wrighting
Postmaster General.
Hong Kong.