HC Deb 19 March 1891 vol 351 cc1427-9
VISCOUNT GRIMSTON (Herts, St. Alban's)

I beg to ask the Postmaster General if he is prepared to fix electric calls in the houses of such persons as may desire the same, without charge, as the District Messengers Company have done and are now doing, and to supply messengers to run errands and make small purchases; carry notes and parcels; call cabs, policemen in case of burglary, fire-engines in case of fire, &c.; and, if not, if he will consider favourably the Petition of the said company to carry on their business under a royalty to the Post Office, before depriving the public of this great and much-appreciated convenience?

*THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) Cambridge University

In reply to the noble Lord, I have to say that the Post Office will be prepared to supply electric call apparatus, but that a charge must necessarily be made for it. I do not suppose that the District Messengers Company can have had the intention of providing any such gratuitous service to the public as the noble Lord suggests, although it is not impossible that temporary advantages of this sort may have been offered to a few persons of influence. The business of the Department is the delivery of letters, parcels, and telegrams, and I have no inclination to interfere with any branches of the District Messenger service which do not infringe upon the province of the State.

MR. COBB

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether, under the new postal system, announced in the morning papers of last Saturday, the Post Office propose to exclusively work the call system, or whether it is proposed that this system shall be worked by companies or persons under licences from the Post Office?

*MR. RAIKES

In reply to the hon. Member, I have to say that it is not proposed to grant licences for the electric call system, and the Post Office will be prepared itself to meet the demands of the public in this matter.

MR. COBB

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that without a licence to use the call system the other business of these companies could not be carried on profitably, or indeed at all?

*MR. RAIKES

The companies which have engaged in this business have done so under express warnings from the Department that their business was illegal, and the warnings have been repeated in each case. As to how far a system of electric call may be applied to other business that docs not fall properly within the business of the Department. I should be glad to consider what course the Department can take in regard to it.

MR. COBB

Will the right hon. Gentleman also consider this fact. The District Messengers Company are now working the call system under a promise of a licence, and the other company have applied for a similar licence. Will the right hon. Gentleman take that question into consideration and make an arrangement?

*MR. RAIKES

I am prepared to take into consideration any operations of the company outside that part of it which is within the jurisdiction of the Post Office; but no promise of a licence to any of these companies can be made for any business which is proper to the Post Office.

DR. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)

What is the part of the business which the right hon. Gentleman considers to be outside the province of the Post Office? Is it the carrying of letters, or the summoning of messengers to bring a cab or a policeman?

*MR. RAIKES

If the hon. Gentleman had listened to my answer he would have known that I have just answered that question. The business of the Department relates to the delivery of letters and messages.

DR. CAMERON

I beg to give notice that I will raise the question on going into Committee of Supply.

VISCOUNT GRIMSTON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the abolition of the power on the part of the companies to carry parcels and letters will render the remainder of the business unremunerative and will entail a loss on the companies?

*MR. RAIKES

I do not know anything of the profits of the company. My business is to give effect to the law.