§ 54. Mr. Maxwellasked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the abolition of the fee payable on telegrams delivered to places over a certain distance from telegraph offices, particularly in view of the fact that the majority of those called upon to pay this fee are in poor circumstances?
§ Major TryonTelegrams are delivered free of charge up to a distance of three miles from the nearest telegraph delivery office. Beyond that distance porterage is charged only on the additional mileage beyond the free delivery boundary. In view of the high cost of telegraph delivery I regret that I could not agree to abolish porterage fees.
§ Mr. MaxwellWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that well-to-do people who have telephones can get their telegrams delivered free, and does he not think that that is rather hard upon the people who cannot afford telephones?
§ Major TryonYes, Sir, but there is a continual loss on telegrams, and the present arrangement is more generous in the matter of distance than is the case in any other country.