§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he will at once take steps to abolish the inconsistencies in counting words in telegrams; and whether, in view of the fact (amongst many other instances) that West Derby counts as two words, and West Kirby as one word, Rock Ferry as one word, New Ferry as two words, and Broughty Ferry as one word, he will give instructions that all compound words, constituting names of places or persons, shall in future be charged for as one word?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. ARNOLD MORLEY,) Nottingham, E.The regulations laid on the Table of the House which relate to the names of places prescribe that "the names of all towns and villages shall be counted as one word each." West Kirby and Broughty Ferry are counted in this manner. Rockferry and Newferry do not come within the description, but they are commonly written as one word each, and they so appear in the Post 212 Office Guide; they are, therefore, accepted by the Department as one word when they are so written. The names of districts and roads are under the control of the Local Authorities, and need not be compound words. I do not think it would be advisable to allow such compound names as West Derby, which is the name of a district in Liverpool, to be charged for as one word, as it would lead to a serious loss to the Revenue.