§ 72. Mr. Orbachasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the hardship and distress caused by the non-delivery of telegrams between the hours of 7 p.m. and 8.30 a.m.; and whether he will now give consideration to the delivery of telegrams till a later hour at night, and from an earlier hour in the mornings.
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§ Mr. GammansAbout 98 per cent. of telegrams are delivered on the day of handing in. Telegrams arriving after the hours of messenger delivery are, where possible, delivered by telephone until 11 p.m. At all times, any available means—orthodox or otherwise—are used to deliver telegrams which are clearly of extreme importance of urgency.
My noble Friend believes that these arrangements are generally acceptable, and does not consider that their extension would be justified. There is already a loss of over £4 m. annually on the inland telegraph service and any extension beyond the present hours of delivery would certainly increase this loss.