§ SIR SEYMOUR KING (Hull, Central)To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the repeated and serious delays which occur in the delivery of newspapers and other book matter by the Indian and Australian mails via Brindisi, particularly when the mail arrives on Saturdays; whether he will state at what hour the Indian mail arrived in London on Saturday, 30th January, and at what hour the first delivery of newspapers by that mail was made by express delivery, and by ordinary course of post; whether he is aware that some of the newspapers by that mail had not been delivered in London by 11 o'clock on Monday morning, about thirty-eight hours after arrival; and whether arrangements can be made to accord to the Indian and Australian mail services the same promptitude of treatment which is given to mails from the United States.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) The Indian and Australian mail viâ Brindisi, which had been somewhat delayed by bad weather in the English Channel, reached London at about 4.10 p.m., almost at the same time as a heavy mail received from the United States via Plymouth. Ordinary and express deliveries of letters were made on the evening of the 30th January, but it was not found possible to deal with the newspapers before the morning of Monday the 1st February. It appears that certain newspapers, apparently those to which the hon. Member refers, were treated in the ordinary manner, whereas they should have been sent out for express delivery, and of this irregularity proper notice has been taken. I do not find that any were delayed in delivery by the fault of the Post Office until 11 a.m., but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any papers so delayed, I will have further inquiry made and will communicate with him. The Indian mail is dealt with in London with the same attention to promptitude as is bestowed on the American mails.