§ Mr. RUPERT GWYNNEasked the Postmaster-General what are now the hours of service in the Post Office in Brighton, Tunbridge Wells, and Eastbourne, on weekdays and Sundays; why the hours of service at the Eastbourne post office both on weekdays and Sundays have recently been seriously reduced; and whether, before making such reduction, statistics were taken as to the number of persons using the office during the hours it was contemplated closing the same?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe hours at Brighton, Tunbridge Wells, and Eastbourne are as follows:—Brighton: Open always, except between midnight Saturday and 7.0 a.m. Sunday. Tunbridge Wells: Weekdays, 7.0 a.m. to 10.0 p.m.; Sundays, 8.30 a.m. to 10.0 a.m., 5.0 p.m. to 6.0 p.m. Eastbourne: Weekdays (May to Oct.), 7.0 a.m. to 10.0 p.m.; Weekdays (Nov. to April), 8.0 a.m. to 9.0 p.m.; Sundays, 8.30 a.m. to 10.0 a.m., 5.0 p.m. to 6.0 p.m. The hours of attendance at Eastbourne were recently reduced because it was ascertained from returns, taken during several non-consecutive weeks, that the amount of business transacted was not sufficient to justify the continuance of the former hours of attendance. It is the practice to make such reductions where the circumstances are found not to justify the longer hours.