§ 76. Sir R. THOMASasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Valley Post Office, Anglesey, serves the villages of Bryngwran and Gwalchmai, a distance of some seven miles, and that on an average the postman is obliged to carry on his back, riding a bicycle, an average weight of about 65 lbs.; whether he is aware that the district from Bodorgan to Newborough, including Malltraeth, Anglesey, is served by only one postman, who has to do the journey twice daily, about four miles each way, on foot, and usually with a heavy load, in a part of the country which is very exposed in winter, sometimes having to walk over his knees in water; and whether he will see that such places are provided with a horse and trap or a motor for the conveyance of mails?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Illingworth)Letters and parcels for delivery at Bryngwran and Gwalchmai are conveyed as far as Bryngwran by two cycle postmen, one of whom then proceeds to Gwalchmai. The weight of postal 254 packets (taken out partly on the postmen s backs and partly on the carriers attached to the bicycles) averages 42 lbs. per man, and whenever it exceeds 50 lbs. per man assistance is provided. The Bodorgan-Newborough postman, who is provided with a cycle and does not travel on foot, conveys a load averaging about 35 lbs. There is no case for incurring the heavy expense of a horse and cart or a motor on this post. I am informed that, although a portion of the route is occasionally flooded during very high tides, it is only to the depth of a few inches, and the flood can be avoided by using a public pathway along an embankment.