HC Deb 29 June 1909 vol 7 cc223-4
Mr. TIMOTHY DAVIES

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the privilege granted to two or three stores in London to use the Post Office business as an advertising medium by allowing them to stamp the name of their firm to all registered letters, parcels, telegrams, and money order and postal order transactions at the post office in their respective buildings, and whether, as a matter of fairness to competing traders, he will cause such practice to discontinue?

Mr. BUXTON

Sub-post offices have been established at certain large stores, clubs, and hotels, in order to meet the convenience of the public. It is, however, a condition in each case that these offices should be freely accessible to all members of the public. In accordance with the normal practice, all registered letters, par- cels, etc., are date-stamped at the office of origin with a stamp bearing the name of the office at which they are handed in, but I will consider whether in the cases in question the designation of the office should not be changed so as not to include the name of the firm.

Mr. BARNARD

Have other drapery establishments in London similar offices, and do their names appear on official documents in the same way as at Harrod's?

Mr. BUXTON

As I said, there are three or four stores and some clubs and hotels where there are these facilities for the convenience of the public, but I do not think it is right that it should in any sense stand for an advertisement for these particular stores, and therefore, having had my attention drawn to it, I shall see that the stamp does not contain the name of the firm.

Mr. BARNARD

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the "Draper's Record" of last week, which publishes very fully this matter, with these names on every postal document?

Mr. BUXTON

Yes; I have. My attention was drawn to it.

Mr. TIMOTHY DAVIES

I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that in future the names of the firms shall not appear?

Mr. BUXTON

What I propose is that the date stamp shall not bear the name and address so that it shall not form in any sense an advertisement. I do not attach any blame to the stores for having used it, because in the natural course that was the date stamp which they were entitled to use. Their attention having been drawn to it, I think they themselves will recognise the propriety of it.