§ 48. Mr. COWANasked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the desirability of making arrangements to afford the public postal facilities at all sub-offices where other business is carried on during the hours of closing under the Shops Act; and whether the inconvenience to the public of being unable to buy post-age stamps before or after closing hours could be mitigated by the provision of automatic or penny-in-the-slot machines placed in such positions as to be always accessible to purchasers?
§ Captain NORTONThere is no power to keep open for post office business during the statutory weekly half-holiday a non-telegraph sub-post office carried on in a shop unless it can be certified that the exigencies of the postal service require that post office business should be transacted during the period in question. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, I shall be glad to have inquiry made as to the circumstances. I am considering the desirability of installing automatic stamp-vending machines outside post offices, but some time must elapse before a decision can be reached.