§ MR. FORDE RIDLEY (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will inform the House under what rule of the Post Office for the regulation of its business the London overseers impose upon letter-carriers the delivery of large and heavy parcels; whether there have been complaints from the Bethnal Green branch, and, if so, will he give instructions for an investigation of them; and whether there is any reason why hand-carts should not be used in that district to assist in the delivery of parcels, as in 1164 other districts of London; and, it there is not any reason, will he give instructions for such hand-carts to be supplied for that district.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe rule is that heavy or cumbersome parcels are not to be taken out for delivery with letters, but that a postman shall take out with his letters, if necessary, not more than five parcels of reasonable size and of an aggregate weight of eleven pounds, subject, however, to his total burden not being increased to more than thirty-five pounds. Complaint was made by a Bethnal Green postman on the 30th March last that he had been given six parcels, and that his total burden at starting was thirty-six pounds. This was immediately inquired into, and the rule laid down has since been strictly adhered to. Handcarts are provided at Bethnal Green, and are used when the weight of parcels to be delivered renders it necessary. The postmen engaged on parcel delivery prefer, however, to do without hand-carts when they can, so as to avoid the necessity of returning to the office with the empty cart after completing the delivery.