HC Deb 28 February 1901 vol 90 cc56-7
MR. KEIR HARDIE

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that Mr. J. G. Graves, a leading merchant of Sheffield, carrying on a large business through the Post Office, has petitioned the Post Office authorities to have parcels of a less postal value than 5d. either collected at his place of business or accepted at the nearest branch office; and whether the Postmaster General will accede to this request.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

The person referred to by the hon Member already enjoys exceptional facilities in regard to the collection of his parcels, both ordinary and registered, by the Post Office, and be desires the further privilege of having registered letters collected from his premises. No provision exists for this purpose, but the Postmaster General is considering whether a scheme can be devised which under prescribed conditions would apply to the public generally. A decision will, it is hoped, be shortly arrived at.

SIR HOWARD VINCENT

Has not the gentleman referred to a right to a private collecting box on payment of a fee of a guinea a year?

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

I have no personal knowledge as to that.

SIR HOWARD VINCENT

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he is aware that inconvenience has been caused to the Sheffield public having business at the General Post Office by the crowding and work entailed there by the representatives of a postal customer to the extent of about £18,000 a year, owing to the refusal of the authorties to collect the registered packets of his firm, as they did prior to the reduction in the postage rate by the last Postmaster General; and whether the Postmaster General will give directions for the ordinary business practice of all carriers to be at once resumed so that mutual annoyance and loss of time may be avoided.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

The Postmaster General is aware that a good deal of inconvenience has been caused by the proceedings of the person referred to, who has been warned that if he persists in obstructing public business at the Sheffield Post Office it will be necessary to take proceedings against him. The Department has not in the past made special provision for collecting registered letters from his business premises. The latter part of the question is not understood.