§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is now prepared to establish the system of "express letter post," as suggested in No. 46 (page 14) of the Sixty Reasons for an Inquiry into Reform, forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Canterbury, on the 1st October, 1889, in the following terms:—
Recommending the introduction of the system of express letter post, or special delivery post, which works so satisfactorily on the Continent and in America. A letter posted in Vienna or New York, having an extra stump by way of special fee, is at once dispatched, and is delivered within twenty minutes or half an hour from the time of its receipts in the postal district to which it is addressed?
§ MR. RAIKESI am not unaware of the advantages claimed for the system referred to by the hon. Member; but there are a variety of considerations to be borne in mind before adopting a preferential rate of postage, which some could afford to pay and which many could not. Another question arises as to the expediency of breaking into the uniform rate of postage established by Sir Rowland Hill, and the matter will require further investigation before a decision can be arrived at.
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in March, 1886, the question was said to be under consideration? Has any decision been arrived at?
§ MR. RAIKESNo, Sir; no decision has been arrived at.