49. Major STROTHER STEWARTasked the Postmaster-General if he is 2916 aware that on August Bank Holiday it was impossible to get post offices to accept telegrams for towns in England; that, through the dislocation of the railway traffic and the consequent missing of trains, much inconvenience and anxiety was caused through telegraphic communication not being available; and whether in future he will take steps to ensure that the Post Office telegraph system is made available to the public on public holidays?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Hartshorn)Telegraphic facilities provided on Bank Holidays are normally adequate for public requirements. Any general extension of the hours of attendance would involve expense out of all proportion to the use likely to be made of the additional facilities, and I regret that I should not be justified in authorising such an extension.
Major STEWARTThis is a public service and the public requires special facilities. Cannot the right hon. Gentleman arrange that we have full public facilities at this time?
§ Mr. RAWSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that sometimes it takes as long as 11 minutes to get a reply from the toll exchange downstairs in this House, and that the telephone service is very much worse since the present Government came into office?