§ Sir HENRY KIMBERasked the Postmaster-General whether he has received representations from the Borough Council of Wandsworth as to the need of a suitable post office for the parish of Wandsworth instead of the present insufficient provision in shops; whether he will direct local inquiry to be made in communication with that council; whether he is aware that no postal or telegraph work is carried on in Wandsworth later than 8 p.m., except at one shop, and at that shop, part of a stationers, only until 9 p.m., and at no place at all on Sundays, while in the neighbouring parishes of Battersea and others, business is carried on until 10 p.m. and in some cases until 11 p.m. and also on Sundays; and whether he is aware that the population of the borough of Wandsworth in the last few years has increased from 60,000 to over 250,000?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have received representations from the Borough Council of Wandsworth regarding the provision of a Crown post office in the parish of Wandsworth. Full inquiry has already been made into all the circumstances. The facilities at present afforded in the Borough of Wandsworth are considered to be sufficient for the requirements of the public. Within the three-quarter-mile radius of Wandsworth Town Hall there are nine sub-post offices, at five of which telegraph work is undertaken, and at seven of which there are telephone facilities. The Wandsworth High Street sub-post office is open for public business until 9 p.m. There is no office in the neighbouring localities of Putney, Wimbledon, and Battersea open after that hour. Sunday facilities are already afforded at Putney branch post office, Battersea sub-district post office, and, as regards the despatch of telegrams, at Clapham Junction Railway Station office. All of them are situated at a distance of about one mile and a quarter from Wandsworth Town Hall, and are easily accessible by public conveyance. From returns of work taken recently it does not appear that there is any necessity for additional Sunday facilities in the locality, and I am averse from any extension of Post Office business which will involve an increase in Sunday labour unless a very strong case can be presented.