§ MR. CARR-GOMM (Southwark, Rotherhithe)To ask the Postmaster General whether he can state the reason for the closing of Dockhead post office, Rotherhithe, for delivery of telegrams; and whether in view of the amount of telegraphic work previously carried on in that office, and the inconvenience now caused to business in the neighbourhood, he will consider the advisability of supplying the need of this locality in such a direction.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The delivery of telegrams from the Dockhead post office was discontinued because it was found that, taking the locality as a whole, a better service could be afforded by concentrating the messenger force at other delivery offices in the neighbourhood. I regret that some persons may have suffered inconvenience from the change, but as the locality as a whole has benefited I fear I cannot see my way to revert to the old arrangement. There is also a general advantage in the reduction of the number of delivery offices in London and other large cities. It reduces the number of references to delivery lists, and in that way lessens both the time occupied in transmission and the risk of mis sending to a wrong office.