72. Mr. MALONEasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that his proposal to abolish the 6 p.m. delivery of letters in certain suburbs of London is unpopular with the general trading community and that it will seriously handicap those business men who deal with their private correspondence during the evening; that the 8 p.m. delivery is usually completed at such a late hour that it is impossible to deal with the correspondence in time for the last post; and whether, in view of all the circumstances, he will reconsider his decision to curtail the postal facilities and endeavour in this way to secure the economy in some other way?
Mr. PEASEAbout one-third of the letters affected by the change in the suburban deliveries will be accelerated and delivered within business hours and the remaining two-thirds will be delivered about two hours later than at present. I have considered the representations 39 which I have received, but I do not think that the interests of the business community will, on the whole, be prejudiced. The deliveries in the London suburbs will be as frequent as in the largest provincial cities, and, inasmuch as an economy of £50,000 per annum is attained, I regret I am unable to reconsider my decision.