§ MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCK (Whitehaven)asked the Postmaster General, Whether, having regard to the statement made by him, arrange 24 ments can be made by the Post Office to facilitate the transfer of letters directly from the Railway Station pillar-boxes to the Railway Post Office travelling vans; and, whether, under proper Regulations, and in cases of necessity, railway guards maybe permitted to carry supplementary Post Office bags?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)There is rather more difficulty in carrying out the suggestion of my right hon. Friend than would appear at first sight. If letters were indiscriminately placed in trains passing a particular station without previous sortation, they would frequently go in the wrong direction, and with the result of delay. I am glad, however, to say, that in the particular case of Whitehaven, in which he is specially interested, I have arranged that a letter-box shall be attached to the 7.30 p.m. train from Whitehaven to Carnforth. There are also difficulties in employing railway officials upon the duty of collecting letters, emptying boxes, and making up bags. But I am willing to consider the suggestion in conjunction with the Railway Companies, whose servants it is proposed to employ.