HC Deb 30 July 1896 vol 43 cc1049-50
MR. HENNIKER HEATON

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General—(1) whether he is considering the question of introducing an agricultural parcel post, at special low rates (as recommended for many years past by the hon. Member for Canterbury), for the carriage of British flowers, fruit, vegetables, poultry, and dairy produce, with a view to give to British cultivators some portion of the forty millions sterling annually paid by British consumers for similar produce from abroad; (2) whether one grave difficulty in the way is the existence of an arrangement made some years ago, whereby 55 per cent. of the postage on parcels is paid to the railway companies for bare carriage, while the Post Office receives only 45 per cent. for doing all the work of collection, sorting, and distribution; and, if so, how long such an arrangement has to run; and (3) whether the further objections caused by the difficulty of distinguishing between Foreign and British produce and between agricultural produce and other articles might be met by requiring every agriculturist sending his produce by the agricultural parcel post to append a statement (somewhat on the lines of that required for the pattern and sample post) stating that the contents are British agricultural produce of his own growing?

MR. HANBURY

The carriage of parcels of agricultural and daily produce by post at special rates has been advocated for many years past from many quarters, though it is doubtful how far it would benefit the agricultural districts themselves. It is quite true, as the hon. Member states, that the Act of Parliament which directs that 55 per cent. of the postage on parcels should be paid to the railway companies is a factor in the problem of considerable importance. The arrangement made by the Act expires in 1904. There is no condition that a statement should be appended stating that the contents are British (as the hon. Member supposes in the last paragraph of his question) in the sample or pattern post, and so there is no experience to show how far it would be practical in the case of the proposed agricultural parcel post.