§ Mr. BYLESasked the Postmaster -General, whether he is aware that a letter addressed to Manchester and posted in this House at 10 p.m. would reach the addressee by first delivery next morning, but that the same letter, if addressed to Salford, would not reach the addressee until the second delivery; and whether he will arrange that Salford traders and residents shall not be prejudiced as compared with their neighbours and competitors in Manchester by being dependent on that city for their postal business?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELA letter posted in the circumstances described by the hon. Member would be delivered by the first delivery in the Central District of Manchester, which includes part of Salford; but not in the other parts of either Manchester or Salford. As I have already informed the hon. Member, a revision of the arrangements at Manchester is under consideration, and it is hoped that improvement will be effected.
§ Mr. BYLESIf a letter is posted here at ten o'clock, will it be delivered in any part of Salford—I do not mean every part, but any single part?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIt will be delivered to that part of the borough of Salford which is included for postal purposes in what is described as the central district of Manchester. I shall be happy to send the hon. Member a map, if he desires it, showing the frontiers in which this delivery will be made.
§ Mr. BYLESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Exchange Station is m Salford—my Division? It is exactly opposite the Manchester Cathedral. Is that central or is it not?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe Exchange Station will figure in the map.
§ Mr. BYLESI want to know whether a letter posted at ten o'clock here, which is delivered in the centre of Manchester by the first delivery, would be delivered in 708 the central part of Salford, say the Exchange Station, by the same delivery or not?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELMy geographical knowledge of these towns will not enable me to say offhand precisely in what districts of Salford the first delivery extends, but to some districts of Salford it certainly does extend, and I shall give the hon. Member detailed information later.
Mr. MONTAGUE BARLOWCan the right hon. Gentleman give us any information as to when the readjustment he suggests is likely to be perfected?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIt is now being worked out by the local officials. It will be very shortly laid.