§ Mr. GILBERTasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the recent increased cost of postages issued by the Post Office and to the effect they will have on the expenses of all candidates for local elections, especially in London where there are so many local elections; and whether he will approach the Post Office as to instituting a local post service at a cheap rate to be available for local election postage?
§ Sir J. BAIRDI have been asked to reply. My attention has been called to the matter. I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General, and am informed that the hon. Member's suggestion as to a cheap local rate of postage is not one which he sees his way to adopt.
Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the special case of the thrift, friendly, and other approved societies general in the matter of higher postal rates, seeing that much of their business is done through the postal service, and, in the case of the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society alone, nearly 3,250,000 communications by post were sent out and 2,750,000 were received from members during 1920; and whether a rebate of the increased postal rates in the case of such organisations established for the benefit of a deserving section of the people can be made?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question put by the hon. Member for Frome (Mr. Hurd) on the 9th June.