HC Deb 19 March 1929 vol 226 cc1596-7
35. Sir R. THOMAS

asked 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-THOMSON

The 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. THOMAS

Is 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?

HON. MEMBERS

Answer!

Sir R. THOMAS

Am I not entitled to an answer?

Mr. SPEAKER

The question seems too complicated to put as a supplementary question.

Sir R. THOMAS

With all respect—

Mr. SPEAKER

If 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-THOMSON

Perhaps 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.