§ 30. Colonel DAYasked the Postmaster-General whether in actual practice there is always someone in charge of the general post offices in towns where there is a population of over 20,000 people; if so, whether he will arrange for telegrams to be accepted at those offices at all hours; and whether he will consider the introduction of a special reduced rate for telegrams and telegraph letters handed in after certain regulated hours?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Viscount Wolmer)There are many towns in which sorting staff remains on duty beyond the normal hours of telegraph business. But the acceptance of telegrams outside those hours would entail arrangements being made for their transmission, reception at intermediate and terminal offices, and delivery at the places of destination, the cost of which would be out of all proportion to the use likely to be made of the facilities. As regards late fee telegrams, I would refer the hon. Member to pages 93 and 94 of the Post Office Guide. I may add that a night telegraph letter service at the rate of 36 words for 1s. is already provided between towns in which the head post offices are open always. The despatch of telegrams by telephone, which can be made at any hour, combined with the use of telephone numbers in the address usually enables telegrams to be transmitted outside the normal hours.
§ Colonel DAYWill the Noble Lord consider introducing some deferred service, so that people can send telegrams at a cheaper rate?
§ Viscount WOLMERI shall be glad to consider any suggestion the hon. Gentleman may have to make.