Page 229 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter XI. 203
142. Parcel bags were scut formally addressed “ On Tier Majesty's Scrvico"
to Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Basrah and were delivered at the Consulato
in which the British Indian post office is situated. Aftor the mails were opened
tho parcel hags wero taken to tlie Custom-house, and were made over by tho
Postmaster to tho Custom-house authorities and delivered by the latter to tho
addressees on production of a pass signed and scaled by tho postmaster. Tho
subsequent history of this question is given iu section (ix) below.

(iii) Baghdad Po9t Office, 1868—1884.
143. On tho 1st January 1808 an experimental post office was established
at Baghdad at a monthly cost of Rs. 75
Establiiluocut.
and sanctioned as a permanency in Gov­
ernment of India, Financial Department, No. 057, dated 30th June 1SG9. In
1S70 the office underwent rovision and in June of that year tho establishment
stood thus:—
Its.
Postmaster 80
Clerk and inunsbi 20
Peon ... 8
Contingent allowance 10
Tota 118
144. The pay of the officials, though debited to tho post office, was drawn in
the office of the Consul-General, of which the post offico formed part, and their
pay was treated as an allowance for postal work.
145. The introduction in 1877 of the Indian Inland Parcel Insurance sys­
tem resulting in a large despatch of spocie by this means from Baghdad to Bom­
bay, and later, in 1879, the introduction of the Money Order system, added to
tbe constantly increasing work in all branches of tho post offico, necessitated a
complete revision of the establishment, as tho Consular clerk in charge of the
post office was unable to devote sufficient time to the postal branch of his work.
In May 1879, therefore, an official of the Indian Tost Office was appointed
postmaster on a salary of Its. 60 per mensem, which was supplemented by an
allowance of Its. 20 from the Consulato General in return for services rendered
in the offioo of tho Consulate. The cstablishmcut then stood thus :—
Re.
Postmaster • •• Hi III CO
Clerk* 30
Postman 12
Contingent allowance 10
Total 112
* Clerk in tbo office of tbe Consul-General, paj R». SO.
146. In July 1SS3 Mr. A. U. Fanshawe, Postmaster-General of Bombay,
brought to the notice of the Director General of tho Post Offico of India that
for somo time paot the postmaster had been found unable to do anything beyond
tho work of the post offico and that tho clerk of tho Consulate, who received
Bs. 30 per mensem from tho post office, assisted the postmastor on mail days
ouly for about an hour in sorting letters. Ho proposed a complete revision of
the post office cstablishmcut and asked that the allowance to the clork should
be withdrawn aud that tho Political Department should no longer contribute
It8. 20 towards tho pay of tho postmaster. In sending up this proposal
Mr. Fanshawe wrote:—“ It will be fully understood, however, that tho post­
master is to remain in immediate subordination to tho Consul-Geuoral and be
attached to In’s office." The proposal was sanctioned in August 1SS3 by
Air. F. It. Hogg, tho Director General, but at the request of the Consul-General
who fully approved of the change, was held in abeyance pending a rcferonco
to tbo Government of India regarding compensation for tho withdrawal of the
allowance of Rs. 30 paid by tho post office to tho Consular clerk, Mr. Tkaddeus,