§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)To ask the Postmaster-General what is the time allowed a cycling rural postman for the performance of a journey of twenty-four miles, and is the whole journey to be performed without rest; whether in these journeys more time is allowed for the collection than for the delivery of letters; and, if not, whether the propriety of allowing additional time for the collection of letters will be taken into consideration, having regard to the delay entailed by the sale of stamps, the registering of postal packets, and the other duties incidental to the collection of letters under such circumstances.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) In fixing the time table for the journey of a cycling rural postman allowance is made 253 for the weight of the load, the nature of the road, and other circumstances. If the hon. Member has any particular case in view in which he thinks the time allowed is insufficient I shall be glad to make inquiry regarding it. Rural posts are laid out in a great variety of ways to meet the special circumstances of each neighbourhood, and every allowance is made for the varying incidents of the journey.