§ MR. STEADMANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, if he is aware that the arrangement by which about 400 men are now withdrawn from Saturday deliveries in the East Central District Office involves serious delay in the delivery of correspondence, and that on 18th March the Indian, China, and Australian mails, although they arrived at 12.40, were not sent out till after 4 p.m.; and if he will make arrangements to prevent this delay?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (for Mr. HANBURY)The arrangement to which the honourable Member no doubt refers is that under which letters are delivered in the East Central District on Saturday afternoon every two hours instead of every hour, as on other days of the week. Owing to most places of business being closed after 2.0 p.m., it is not necessary to continue the usual hourly service, and the postmen are employed at the office instead, in dealing with the heavy posting which begins earlier on Saturday. The mails from India, China, and Australia on Saturday, 18th March, arrived at times varying from 12.40 p.m. to 2.5 p.m., and, having been checked and sorted, were sent out for delivery at times varying from 3.50 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.