§ 35. Sir R. THOMASasked the Postmaster-General why although the head post office in Cardiff is stated to be open for business till 9 p.m., money orders are not isued after 8 p.m., although postal orders are obtainable up to 9 p.m.; and whether this rule is in force everywhere?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe head post office at Cardiff (and at a few-other of the larger provincial towns) is open until 9 p.m. for the more urgent kinds of postal business. Money Order business, however, is not transacted later than 8 p.m. at any offices in the country except the chief office in London. I have had little, if any, public demand for such an extension, which would entail additional staff and give rise to accounting difficulties.
§ Sir R. THOMASIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware of a very serious anomaly; for instance, at the Cardiff office is it not a fact that you can apply from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. for a money order, say for £7, on which the poundage is 6d. and it cannot be granted; but if you ask for seven postal orders in £1 denominations, you can get them, and the poundage is 1s. 2d.? Why should the public be inconvenienced in that way?
§ Sir R. THOMASAm I not entitled to an answer?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe question seems too complicated to put as a supplementary question.
§ Sir R. THOMASWith all respect—
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf all supplementary questions were of the sort which the hon. Member is now putting we should never get to the end of questions.
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONPerhaps I may explain quite shortly that the accountancy processes for postal orders and money orders are quite different. Postal orders require much less accountancy than money orders.