§ 63. Mr. AMMONasked the Postmaster-General whether he is prepared to advertise the cash-on-delivery service by means of a cancel ling-stamp on letters, similar to that used to advertise the telephone system, as a means to promote increase of business and revenue to the Post Office?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONNo, Sir. It is not the function of the Post Office to urge the public to use one facility in preference to other means of purchase and remittance.
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI have no reason to think that it is otherwise than a success.
§ Mr. AMMONIs it not possible to attract very much larger business if he makes it more widely known?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI do not think that is the question.
§ 68 and 69. Mr. AMMONasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he will consider extending the cash-on-delivery service for inclusion within the letter post?
(2) the amount of business done through the cash-on-delivery service since its inception; whether it has covered expenditure; and whether it is possible to state the class of goods or business mostly covered by the service?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI am giving close consideration to the question of extending the system to the letter post. Since the inception of the service up to the middle of this month, just over a million cash-on-delivery parcels have been posted. The revenue has slightly exceeded the expenditure. The service is believed to have been used chiefly for the transmission of motor parts, drapery, wireless parts and stationery.
§ Mr. AMMONDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that that indicates that if he advertised the service still further it would be used in connection with smallholders and others?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL - THOMSONThe Post Office has no desire to make money out of this service. It is only a question of providing facilities for the public.
§ Mr. AMMONIn that case, is the right hon. Gentleman doing his utmost to provide facilities for the public by not bringing it to the public notice as much as he might?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI think the public are well aware of it by this time.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSIs it not the case that the bulk of the articles referred to-are advertised in the journals previously mentioned?