§ 114. Mr. JOWETTasked whether, having regard to the fact that in many cases the relatives of soldiers on active service cannot afford to pay the heavy cost of carriage, he can arrange for the free delivery of small parcels sent by wives or parents to men serving at the front?
§ 122. Mr. THOMASasked whether numbers of friends and relatives of men serving at the front are prevented from sending small parcels of necessities and luxuries to the men at the front in consequence of the postage charged; and whether he will take steps to see that any parcels sent to give comfort and aid to our soldiers and sailors can be sent free or at a reduced charge?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Hobhouse)I cannot agree that the present rates on parcels for the troops impose a serious check on the despatch of comforts to the Army. The Post Office is at present despatching about 12,000 parcels a night to the Army Base Post Office in France. Any reduction of postage which resulted in a material increase in this number would frustrate its own object by increasing the difficulties already experienced by the Army Post Office in disposing of the heavy mails with which it has to deal. These comprise not only the parcels above-mentioned, but 220 also from 250,000 to 300,000 outward letters and newspapers every day. I understand that the difficulties of providing adequate transport in France are already very serious