§ 75. Mr. HORNERasked the Postmaster-General whether, having regard to the fact that the postal rates on small parcels from the United Kingdom to soldiers on active service press with severity upon poor people, he can rearrange, in conjunction with the War Office authorities, the entire scale of rates and reduce them, or at least reduce or abolish the rate on parcels not exceeding 3 lbs.?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)I regret that it is not practicable, in view of the vast and growing bulk of the parcel mails for the Expeditionary Forces, and of the difficulties of providing adequate transport both in this country and abroad, to effect any reduction in the rates of postage on parcels for the troops abroad.
§ Sir HENRY CRAIKMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman to take care that this saving is made before he makes any concession to the people on whose behalf the two previous questions were asked?
§ Mr. SAMUELI am afraid that in present circumstances it is not possible to make any concession to anybody.
§ Mr. A. WILLIAMS(by Private Notice): I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether it is possible to arrange that the holder of a ring paper should have the right to send once a month at a reduced rate a parcel to a soldier who made the allotment in respect of which the ring paper was issued?
§ Mr. SAMUELI would refer the hon. Member to an answer which I gave this afternoon to the hon. Member for South 468 Tyrone (Mr. Horner), and I would also say that there are certain practical objections to the adoption of this proposal which J am afraid render it impossible to sanction it.
§ Mr. A. WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman consider that this would reduce the number of parcels and very likely reduce the weight also of parcels sent?
§ Mr. SAMUELNo, Sir. I think any reduction of rate would be likely to likely to increase the number.