§ LORD ERSKINE had given notice to call attention to the increase in postal charges recently announced, and to the additional burden imposed thereby on many business 480 and industrial undertakings; and to ask His Majesty's Government whether their object is to increase the Post Office revenue; and, if so, what amount by additional revenue it is estimated will accrue; and to move for Papers. The noble Lord said: My Lords, at the request of the noble Earl who leads the House I propose to postpone the Motion that stands in my name till a later date. I understand that the Postmaster-General will make his statement on the Post Office Estimates in another place to-morrow, and it would be more convenient, perhaps if I postponed my Motion till a later date.
§ LORD SOUTHWARKMy Lords, I am sure the commercial world will very much regret that it is necessary for the noble Lord to postpone discussion upon this Motion to-day. It is a very urgent matter, and postponement is much to be regretted. I may perhaps be allowed to say that I have placed a Question upon the Paper in the following terms:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether, in view of the highly unsatisfactory, unsound and universally-condemned proposals of the Postmaster-General in regard to the alteration of postal charges, and with a view of advancing trade on sound and paying lines, they will consider reverting to penny postage and sixpenny telegrams.I have put that down for Tuesday, and I hope to be able to say a few words upon it then.