§ MR. BRODIE HOARE (Hampstead)I beg to ask the Postmaster General how it arose that the West Indian Mail, which was delivered in Plymouth at 11 p.m. on the 27th December, was not delivered in London until after business hours on the 28th?
§ MR. A. MORLEYThe mail referred to reached the Plymouth Post Office soon after midnight on the night of the 27th–28th of last mouth, and was forwarded to London by 816 the first, passenger train on the Great Western Railway. The correspondence for the City of London was received at, the General Post Office at 3.50 p.m. on the 28th, and the greater part of it was included in the delivery commencing at 4.5 p.m., and the remainder commencing at 5.5 p.m.
§ MR. BRODIE HOAREDo I understand there was no train from Plymouth to London earlier than that by which the mails were sent?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI believe there was a train, but if the mails had been sent by that they would have had to be transferred at Exeter. On that point I am making inquiries.
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONHas there not been a discontinuance of the practice of sending these mails on by special trains, and is it not due to that fact that this long delay occurred?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI have authorised a change in the arrangements for special trains in cases which by the use of the ordinary service it is possible to post, letters in time for the outgoing mail. Special trains are not always justified by the amount of the mail.