§ 42. Mr. TOWNENDasked the Postmaster-General if the Sale Urban Dis- 965 trict Council were given an opportunity of laying their views before his Department, prior to the decision being taken to transfer the Sale General Post Office to the adjacent district of Ashton-upon-Mersey?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONRepresentations were received from the Sale Urban District Council, prior to the decision in question, and were duly considered.
§ Mr. TOWNENDIs it not a fact that for the last 12 months the Sale Urban District Council have attempted to get into touch with the Minister, and that as late as a week ago he replied that he still could not see them on this matter?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONBecause the premises in question were bought something like nine months ago and actually acquired.
§ Mr. TOWNENDIs it not a fact that before the premises were bought the local council desired to lay their opinions before the right hon. Gentleman on this very important matter, owing to the risk to human life, and that his Department refused to listen to them?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe representations were received and were duly considered.
§ Mr. TOWNENDBut, in spite of that fact, is it not the case that the representations that were made were incomplete, and that ever since then the local authority have been endeavouring to get into direct touch with the Minister and that he still refuses to see them on this important matter?
Sir W. MITCHELL-THONISONI should be very sorry to think that there has been any disrespect on my part towards the local authority. This was a matter of acquiring certain premises for Post Office purposes. I chose the premises which I thought were best adapted for Post Office Services. I heard representations from the local authority, and these were duly considered. There is no doubt in my own mind that the premises that were chosen were much better for our purpose and much cheaper. They did not involve the expense that the other premises would have involved. The premises have been bought, and, therefore, there is no point in my receiving representations.
§ Mr. TOWNENDIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I desire to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment a week today.