§ 21. Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the delay in delivering telegrams sent through the Mumbles Post Office; whether he is aware that a letter posted in London between 8 6 and 7 p.m. is delivered sooner than a telegram handed in at the same time; and will he look into the matter?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI have not heard of any general suggestion of delay. The hon. Member may refer to a telegram for Mumbles which was recently handed in at a London office at 6.55 p.m. The Mumbles Sub-Post Office, like other offices of the same kind, closes at 7 p.m., and, accordingly, after that hour there can be no delivery of telegrams except to telephone subscribers.
§ Mr. GRENFELLCan the right hon. Gentleman hold out some prospect of a later closing of Mumbles Post Office; seven o'clock is a very early hour?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONSeven o'clock is the normal hour in country offices, and I cannot contemplate any general extension of the hours in every country office. Telegrams can be delivered to telephone subscribers after that hour.
§ Mr. GRENFELLMumbles is not a country place.
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNIt is a popular seaside resort.
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI do not want to say anything disrespectful of Mumbles, but it falls into the class of sub-post offices which are normally closed for telegraph duty at 7 p.m. It is obvious that there must be some genera! hour of closing for the delivery of telegrams, and the quantity of business in offices of that character after seven o'clock does not justify, in the public-interest, their being kept open.