§ 73. Mr. RENDALLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why the Wheat Commission found it necessary to send out on Sunday, 11th March, a telegram of 225 words to large numbers of firms asking for supplies of wheat, which involved a great deal of work to post offices all over the country, when letters containing the same information could have been prepared and posted on the same day and would have come to the notice of the recipients at the same. 1710 time, namely, the opening of business offices the first thing on the following-Monday morning?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Captain Bathurst)The Food Controller requested the Wheat Commission to take prompt action in relation to certain stocks of barley, and, as the course to be adopted was not decided upon until late on Saturday, the 10th instant, it was too late to prepare and post a large number of letters for delivery throughout the country on Monday morning, as was necessary. I may say that this course was adopted in order to prevent the discharge of an enormous number of employés whose continued services were required.
§ Mr. RENDALLWhat gain was there in time in sending out telegrams requiring the Post Office employés to write out telegrams of 225 words all over the country rather than employ their own clerks on Sunday morning?
Captain BATHURSTAs I have already pointed out, it obviated the necessity of discharging a very large number of men whose continued services were necessary. I may also point out that the postal facilities are not so good as they were, and that these communications would probably not have been received in any case until Wednesday.