§ MR. CALDWELLOn behalf of the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that the people of the townships of Cleasero, Achmore, and Lochganvich, Island of Lewis, suffer serious inconvenience in consequence of his Department having failed to establish a post office in the district as a place of call for correspondence; will he explain why, on the 7th January last, he renewed his suggestion that the persons affected should agree together to put up a roadside box on the route of the Stornoway and Callanish mail into which the driver could deliver letters; whether he is aware that this suggestion does not commend itself to the people of the district, inasmuch as its adoption, apart from the cost of the box, would involve the manufacture of upwards of 50 keys for the use of the various heads of families, each of whom would have access to his neighbours' correspondence; whether he will again consider the advisability of establishing a post office, such as would not only be a place of call for letters, but would also provide the inhabitants of the district with facilities for obtaining stamps, etc., and for posting letters; and whether he will state the cost of a post office of this description?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonIn giving effect to the postal reforms announced in the Budget Speech, the Postmaster General hopes to be able at an early date to bring the neighbourhood in question within the official delivery, which 92 will be a more convenient arrangement to the inhabitants than the establishment of the proposed office of call. The postman who delivers the letters will receive at the same time any letters for the post, and will also sell stamps.