§ 39. Mr. SMITH-CARINGTONasked the Postmaster-General if he can now make any further statement on the question of extending the cash-on-delivery system to the letter post?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONArrangements have been made to extend the inland cash-on-delivery service to packets sent by registered letter post on the 30th of this month. I have also arranged with the railway companies operating in Great Britain for the introduction, on the same date, of a cash-on-delivery service for goods other than highly perishable traffic despatched by railway. The sender of a railway cash-on-delivery consignment will be supplied with a document which must be presented to the railway company before delivery will be afforded. This document he will send as a cash-on-delivery letter, marked for payment of the total amount due to him, to the consignee. The latter will present it to the company and obtain his goods; the sum collected will be forwarded at once by the Post Office to the original sender. Under this system the user of the cash-on-delivery service will be in a position to take full advantage of the high weight limits and the special rates applicable to railway transport. Copies of a leaflet explaining in more detail the operation of the new services will be available at the Members' Lobby Post Office or the Vote Office this afternoon.
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONMy hon. Friend had better perhaps wait and 1789 see the details of the leaflet. They include fish, meat, fruit, cut flowers and certain other things.