§ Lord Althorp, adverting to the Abolition of the Office of Post-master-general of Ireland, and to the consequent necessity of placing the department of the Post Office of Ireland under the control of the Postmaster-general of England, moved for leave to bring in a Bill to enable his Majesty to appoint a Postmaster-general for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Mr. Humerose, not to object to the Motion, but to ask the noble Lord a question on a subject connected with the Post-office. Although numerous petitions had been presented by himself and others during the last three or four years, from persons praying to be relieved from the burthen to which, in many cases, they were subject by the regulations respecting the two-penny and three-penny post, nothing had yet been done on the subject. In some parts of the line of demarcation, the inhabitants of one side of the street paid only 2d. for their letters, while the inhabitants of the other side paid 3d. It was a matter which, in his opinion, might be set right without much difficulty. He begged to ask the noble Lord if the subject had yet attracted the notice of his Majesty's Government, and if it were intended to take any step respecting it?
§ Lord Althorpreplied, that he believed the subject was at present under the consideration of his noble friend to whose department it belonged; and that he hoped some means would be devised for remedying the evil, of which the hon. Gentleman complained.
§ Mr. Goulburnsaid, it ought to be borne in mind that the abolition of the office of Irish Postmaster-general had been avowedly resolved on by the late Government during the last year.
§ Lord Althorpsoon after brought in the Bill, which was read a first time, and 134 ordered to be read a second time on Monday, and to be printed.
Mr. Humeasked, if it was the intention of Government to abolish the office of Postmaster-general of Scotland? He did not see why 800l. a-year might not be saved to the public by such an abolition.
§ Lord Althorp (as we understood the noble Lord)observed, that there was no Postmaster-general in Scotland, but only a deputy. The whole subject, however, would, in all probability, undergo re-modelling.