§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said, that when he mentioned that the number of letters transmitted and received through the Post Office in this country had increased from 70,000,000 in the year 1839 1187 to 700,000,000 now; and that the number of letters received in and despatched from London alone was nearly one quarter of the whole correspondence of the kingdom, he thought he would have almost adduced enough to prove to their Lordships the necessity for a large addition to the present accommodation of the Central Office. The business of the Department had also been greatly increased in the Money Order branch, as also by the establishment of the Post Office savings banks, by the book post, pattern post, and other valuable adjuncts, all of which rendered it necessary that they should have an enlarged space for their operations. Indeed, so great had been the pressure upon them that they could not have gone on but for the opening of the district offices which now existed in various parts of the metropolis, by means of which a considerable portion of the business had been taken off the hands of the Central Office. However, the business of the Chief Office had at present to be transacted in four or five separate places, the Money Order Office being in one spot, the Savings Bank in another, and so forth. That was found to be on inconvenient arrangement, and it was very desirable that, as far as possible, the various branches of the chief establishment should be consolidated. It was, therefore, proposed to purchase certain property adjoining St. Martin's-le-Grand, and there to construct buildings for the purpose of supplying the requisite accommodation.
§ Motion agreed to: Bill read 2a, and committed for Tuesday, the 13th Instant.
§ House adjourned at a quarter past Six o'clock, till Monday, the 12th Instant, at One o'clock.