§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONI beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that there exists a general feeling of surprise and dissatisfaction at the delay in attaching letter boxes to all through trains; whether the Post Office Department has considered the question, and made the necessary arrangements with the Railway Companies; and, if not, what objections have been raised, and by whom, to the institution of this reform; and whether he is aware that the through trains in the leading foreign countries and in the colonies are provided with letter boxes?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI am not aware that any such feeling exists. It has been found practicable in some few cases to afford the accommodation by ordinary trains in accordance with requests made to the Department, but applications on the subject are rare. Wherever a sorting carriage is run in a train the public can 1128 hand their letters in for post, provided they bear a late-fee stamp of ½d.; but there are many practical difficulties in the way of the use of letter boxes by all through trains, and I am not prepared to adopt the system generally. Special provision has, however, been made for sending letters on an emergency by railway for a fee of 2d. in addition to the postage, and much success has attended this arrangement. I have no recent knowledge of the Continental or Colonial practice; but I understand that in France and Germany the rule is to attach letter boxes to mail trains only, though ordinary trains sometimes carry them; but even in these countries, so far as my information goes, the system has not been attended with much advantage, and it is said that of late years it has not been extended.