§ 85. Mr. MANVILLEasked the Postmaster-General whether he has received any complaints regarding the great delay frequently experienced in the delivery of telegrams between Birmingham and London; and what steps he proposes to take to expedite the delivery of telegrams in view of the great inconvenience being caused to manufacturing and commercial establishments by the present delay
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Pease)There have been some recent complaints of delay to telegrams between London and Birmingham. This has been due to the large increase of the traffic and the absence of a part of the staff who are still in the Army. The service has, however, been improved lately, and I hope this improvement will be maintained.
§ 87. Mr. STANTONasked the Postmaster-General whether he has received letters of complaint from the urban district council of Mountain Ash, South Wales, with regard to the postal service delays which have taken place in this area; is he aware that one of the complaints is that a letter posted at Merthyr Tydvil takes two days to reach Abercynon, a distance of five miles, and that a letter posted at Pontypridd takes twenty-eight hours to arrive at Abercynon, a distance of four miles; and will he see that this is altered?
§ Mr. PEASEI have received a complaint from the Mountain Ash Urban District Council. Under existing arrangements a letter for Abercynon, posted at Merthyr Tydvil before 8.20 p.m., should be delivered by first post next day. There are two direct dispatches daily from Pontypridd to Abercynon at 5.55 a.m. and 1.47 p.m., which connect with the deliveries made at Abercynon at 7 a.m. and 2.30p.m. respectively. Letters posted too late for the 1.47 p.m. dispatch fall into the morning delivery next day. If the covers of any letters which appear to have been delayed are furnished, further inquiry will be made.