MR. DOYLEasked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the inconvenience caused to the public and the injury to trade by the closing of branch post offices, situated in tradesmen's shops, closing half a day in the middle of each week as well as an hour or an hour and a half in the busiest part of each day; and whether, in view of the fact that such branch offices have had many now duties put on them during the last few years, he will make such arrangements as will enable them to remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., as is the case with district offices?
§ Mr. PEASEThe provisions of the Shops Act, 1912, apart, the closing of Post Offices carried on in shops on the local early closing day is in accordance with the practice recommended by a Select Committee of this House on Post Office servants in 1907, in order to afford sub-postmasters and their assistants partial relief from duty on one day in the week. The closing is acquiesced in by the public generally. The closing of post offices for a short period at midday, which was in- 533W troduced during the War, has now been abolished or reduced to a period not exceeding one hour, except at the smallest offices. I am not aware that the practice has given rise to serious inconvenience where it still remains in force, but on this point and with regard to the hours at which business begins and ends, I shall be glad to consider any specific case which my hon. Friend may have in mind.