§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Postmaster-General whether he has considered the suggestions of the Post Office Workers' Union to the effect that additional revenue could be earned by the Post Office and the public benefited if non-urgent telegrams were accepted at half-price and a system of postal cheques adopted; and, if so, what decision, if any, he has arrived at?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYSuggestions have often been made for the establishment of a half rate non-urgent telegram and have been carefully considered. With costs at their present level it is extremely improbable that such a service would bring in any additional net revenue, and unless it were very distinctly inferior to the present service there would be serious risk of the present revenue being 259W considerably reduced. In view of the widely extended banking system in this country and the general use of bank cheques and postal orders for remittance purposes, I do not think there would be any substantial demand for postal cheques, especially having regard to the high fees which it would be necessary to charge to cover the cost of the service.