§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he can state the annual revenue derived by the Department from porterage on telegrams; whether he is aware that a boy employed in delivering telegrams in rural districts and the suburbs of towns frequently earns "porterage" enough in a few hours to cover his week's wages, and that, on the other hand, owing to "porterage," telegraphic communication with remote localities is practically nonexistent; and, whether he will abolish porterage on telegrams, and thus place on equality people living in the country with those living in the towns?
§ MR. HANBURYThe gross annual revenue is estimated at £60,000. The 1224 reply to the rest of the hon. Member's question is in the negative; but I may add that the Postmaster General is making inquiry with a view to ascertain whether, by an extended use of bicycles, a reduction cannot be effected in the charges for the longer distances, in which delivery is at present effected by man and horse.