HC Deb 25 March 1912 vol 36 cc10-1
Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

asked the Postmaster-General whether the postal facilities have recently been reduced in the village of Henllan, Denbigh; will he say why the office at Henllan has been closed between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on week-day afternoons; whether he has received protests on the subject from the people of Henllan and Denbigh; and whether he will make full inquiry into the matter?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

Permission was given in November last to the sub-postmaster of Henllan to close his office at 1 p.m. on Thursdays and on Bank Holidays, in accordance with a practice which is now common at rural post offices, and is based on the recommendations of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants, 1907. I see no reason for withdrawing the concession made to the sub-postmaster. No change has been made, or is contemplated, in the hours of attendance on other afternoons.

Sir HERBERT ROBERTS

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the proposed changes in the postal service affecting the Trefnant-Henllan-Llannefydd route, Denbighshire; whether it is proposed to substitute for the present mail-cart service a walk or cycling round; whether the present postman has been in the service for twenty-six years, has an excellent record, and has for seventeen years driven a mail-cart along the route; whether he has received representations from the Llannefydd Parish Council, the Denbigh Town Council, and other personal communications from the district, protesting against the proposed changes, not only on the ground of hardship to the postman, but as detrimental to the efficiency of the service; and whether he is in a position to make a statement on the subject?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

I am aware of the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers. Applications have been made for an improvement in the postal service affecting the route in question, and in order to meet them the question of employing two postmen using cycles in place of the cart service is under consideration. When the matter comes to me for a decision I will give full weight to the representations which have been made to me by the hon. Member and others.