HC Deb 16 April 1883 vol 278 c305
MR. MACFARLANE

asked the Postmaster General, If, when an application is made in a town or village for a post office, it is the practice to require the inhabitants to give a guarantee that the number of letters will cover the cost of the establishment, &c., and, if it is not usual to enforce such a condition with regard to a post office, why it is required in the case of a telegraph office, seeing that the Postal and Telegraph departments yield a large surplus revenue?

MR. FAWCETT

Sir, the practice of the Department is similar in both the eases to which the lion. Member refers. When the estimated revenue is insufficient, a guarantee is, as a rule, required.