58. Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSasked the Postmaster-General whether in many recent instances letters posted in Leicester and London have taken three or four days to be delivered in Bury St. Edmunds; whether he can explain why these delays take place; and whether, in view of the inconvenience and loss of orders caused to traders, he will take steps to prevent their recurrence.?
§ Mr. PEASEMy attention has been drawr to the delay to a number of packets posted in London, and one posted in Leicester during a recent week-end, which were prepaid one halfpenny only. The delay in London was partly attributable to the fact that the packets were posted after 3.30 p.m., and wore, in accordance with Regulations, liable to be held over till next day, and partly to exceptional pressure owing to a heavy arrival of mails at the time. The Postmaster-General has power to delay all packets, other than those sent at the letter rate of postage in such circumstances, if the letters would otherwise suffer delay. The packet posted in Leicester should have been delivered on the following Monday instead of, as actually happened, on Tuesday. I am having further inquiry made in this case and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSis the right hon. Gentleman aware that the deliberate delay on letters with a halfpenny stamp, not posted before half-past three, causes very great inconvenience to the business community, who are in the habit of making up their post towards the end of the day, and will he find a means of abating this very serious inconvenience?