§ 22. Mr. PETOasked the Postmaster-General whether the parish council of Collingbourne Ducis, Wilts, were asked through the Marlborough post office if they had any objection to the proposal to close the post office on Thursdays from 1 o'clock; whether he received a copy of the resolutions of the parish council strongly protesting against the proposal, on the ground that it would cause inconvenience to the public, and suggesting that, if a weekly half-holiday was required, it should be arranged for by sending a relief clerk from Marlborough; and whether, in spite of this resolution, he has decided to close the post office on Thursdays from 1 o'clock on and after Thursday next, the 5th December?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The parish council were consulted, and I received a copy of the resolution in which the hon. Member 1078 refers. The suspension of post and telegraph business for a weekly half-holiday is now common at the smaller post offices-While the observations of the local authorities are invited on proposals such as this, they are not considered to have a right of veto on the extension of half-holidays. The business formerly done at Collingbourne Ducis Post Office on Thursday afternoons was small, and I do not think any more inconvenience can result from the weekly early closing than at the many other post offices where such arrangements have been introduced in similar circumstances without complaint. As, however, one of the sub-postmaster's staff has to be in attendance for another purpose I am arranging for telegrams to be accepted throughout the afternoon, and also for the office to be opened for half an hour before the despatch of the night mail for the sale of stamps and acceptance of parcels and registered letters.