§ MR. W. T. HOWELL (Denbigh Boroughs)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, having regard to the fact that London is able, without inconvenience, to do without the delivery of letters on Sunday, he is prepared to put an end to Sunday deliveries all through the country, allowing, under 613 proper safeguards as to identity, letters to be delivered at post offices during one hour of the morning to those who apply for them.
§ MR. HANBURYThis question has from time to time been under the consideration of the Department; and in 1888 the then Postmaster General endeavoured to obtain some indication of public feeling upon it by inviting the Town Councils of several of the largest provincial towns in England to consider whether they were prepared to ask for the total discontinuance of the delivery and dispatch of letters on Sundays. The result was that of the eight Town Councils so invited, six—among them being Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham—decided by large majorities to reject the offer. Bristol declined to express an opinion, and one only—namely, Nottingham—replied in the affirmative, but only by a small majority.