Captain BENNasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that telegrams are not delivered on Sundays after 10.30 a.m. except in London and the large towns; and whether he will consider the possibility of making arrangements for the 2419W communication by telephone of the contents of Sunday telegrams in cases where the addressee is a subscriber?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe facts are as stated in the first part of the question. Instructions are already in force under which, when the normal delivery office of a telegram is closed, steps are taken at the nearest office which is open to ascertain whether the addressee is a telephone subscriber, and if he is, the telegram is to be dictated to him by telephone, on his undertaking to pay the appropriate trunk fee (if any). I may add that it would facilitate the work of the Post Office if the public would make greater use of telephonic addresses for telegrams. Particulars of this service are to be found on page 89 of the Post Office Guide. A recommendation to this effect is also prominently displayed on page 1 of the London Telephone Directory.