§ MR. ELLIS GRIFFITH (Anglesey)To ask the Postmaster General whether his attention has been called to the inconvenience experienced by tradesmen occupying lock-up shops, and other residents at Holyhead, owing to the first 1439 delivery of letters each day taking place before the shops are open, and in the event of any letter being too bulky to pass through the letter-box, their being returned to the post office to await the next delivery; whether he is aware that the second delivery does not take place until about 3 p.m., and that this delay causes hardship; and if so, whether he will be prepared to relax the regulations to the extent of either allowing the letters of persons well known to the officials to be handed to them over the counter should they call for them at the post office, or of ordering that such letters be delivered with the first parcels delivery; or if not, whether he will arrange for an additional delivery of letters to take place not later than 10 a. m. each day.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) There was a misunderstanding at the Holyhead office. The rule, as altered by me two or three months ago, admits of such letters as the hon. Member refers to being obtained at the post office without charge, provided no delivery by postman is about to take place. In regard to the second part of the Question, the number of letters at Holyhead is not sufficient to justify the establishment of a fourth delivery.