§ Major-General Sir JOHN DAVIDSONasked the Postmaster-General if, since it must now be possible to forecast the probable pace of demobilisation in the future, he can now state, approximately, when the postal and telegraph arrangements in the firuit-growing districts of South Hants will be restored to the same 443W arrangements and conditions of efficiency as in 1914, in view of the importance of an efficient postal and telegraphic service to the interest of the fruit growers and the marketing of the fruit?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI am unable to say at present what improvements in postal delivery arrangements will be practicable, and when they will take effect, but improvement is under consideration. Special arrangements will be made for the disposal of the telegraphic traffic in South Hampshire during the fruit season in the same manner as in former years; but as the general traffic of the country is now greater than before the War, and few of the many thousands of skilled telegraphists serving with the Colours have been demobilised, I am afraid that some time may elapse before telegraph facilities can be provided generally on a pre-war basis.