§ Brigadier-General COLVINasked the Postmaster-General if he has received numerous complaints from British merchants as to the delay in the delivery oh' parcels sent from this country to Italy; if he can account for this delay; and whether, seeing that the irregularity of the postal service in Italy is a serious menace to our international trade, he will take steps to improve this situation?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThere is no loss of time in forwarding from this country parcels addressed to Italy, but, owing to the congestion on the Continental railways, I understand there is considerable delay after passing the Italian frontier, and possibly also in transit across France. I have already made representations to the Italian Post Office on the subject. The number of parcels sent by post to Italy has recently been much above the normal, and it is possible that the transport difficulties on the Continent have been in creased from this cause.