§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that the late Mr. Raikes, not long before his death, expressed the strongest approval of the scheme for an "Agricultural Parcels Post," at specially low rates, for dairy produce, poultry, vegetables, flowers, &c., under which the organisation of the Post Office would be utilised for the rapid and general collection in the country, and distribution in the towns, of perishable produce; and whether a Departmental Committee is now inquiring into the matter; if so, will he lay the correspondence upon the Table of the House?
§ MR. HANBURYThe Postmaster General is aware of the interest which the late Mr. Raikes took in the subject of the transmission of agricultural produce by parcel post, but it is a mistake to suppose that Mr. Raikes ever advocated specially low rates in favour of this particular class of produce. No inquiry into the matter by a Departmental Committee is now proceeding.
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONasked what objection there was to an agricultural parcel post.
§ MR. HANBURYsaid, there was no objection to an agricultural parcel post, but to one at reduced rates, because the Postmaster General had no opportunity of judging how far each individual parcel contained agricultural produce.