§ MR. J. MCKILLOP (Stirlingshire)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been called to the hardships often incurred by sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses in consequence of the charge made upon them for the removal or alterations of telegraph wires owing to change of residence; and, whether anything can be done to remedy this grievance?
§ MR. HANBURYAttention was called to this matter, in which my hon. Friend has taken so much interest, at the Conference which certain officers of the Post Office had with the Postmaster General and myself in August last, and instructions have been given that the cost of the removal or alteration of telegraph wires owing to a change of residence is to be borne by the Department in every case in which there is not some good and special reason for charging it to the sub-postmaster, such, for instance, as a vexatious and capricious removal occurring immediately after one already carried out at the expense of the Department. The new rule is to take effect as from the 1st April last.