§ MR. C. E. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that on the 21st July the first delivery of letters in the London Road district of Manchester did not take place until shortly before 10 a.m., thus causing considerable inconvenience in that central and industrial quarter of the city; and, whether the explanation of the delay was that the letters had been delivered by an ex-Army pensioner postman, inexperienced in the duties of a postman?
§ MR. HANBURYIt is the fact that the first delivery of letters in the London Road district of Manchester on the 21st instant was not completed until shortly before 10 a.m. The delay was due to an Army Reserve postman, new to the walk, having been unavoidably placed on the delivery in the absence on leave of the regular postman. The delivery is now being completed by 8.30 a.m. I suppose that an Army pensioner, of course, requires time to learn his duties just as the ordinary civilian does.