§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Postmaster General under what Act, or section of an Act, does he levy a charge of a halfpenny extra postage on letters posted in London on Sundays; whether he has the power to charge any extra postage up to 1s. on every letter; and whether he can see his way to remit this charge?
§ MR. A. MORLEYThe charge of ½d. extra postage on letters posted in London on Sundays for despatch in the evening mails of that day is not made under any statutory Act. The arrangement is one made by the Postmaster General to meet the convenience of those who desire this accommodation, which in itself puts the Department to some expense. I am not prepared to withdraw the charge, as any large increase in the number of letters posted for the evening mail despatched on Sunday would increase materially Sunday work. The extra postage of 1s. referred to I presume is that made on registered letters posted up to the latest minute at the General Post Office mentioned on page 306 of the Post Office Guide. It is absolutely necessary that the charge should be sufficiently high to prevent a large number of registered letters being posted at a very late hour.