§ Sir W. RUTHERFORDasked the Postmaster-General whether there is a new order of the Post Office whereby the mail for certain delivery to the West of England from Liverpool must be at the head post office; Liverpool, by 4 o'clock in the afternoon or, with a late fee, by 4.30; whether the supplementary night 240W mail, in respect whereof the first delivery next day is not reliable, must beat the Liverpool head post office by 5.45 or, with a late fee, at 6.15; whether the effect of this Regulation is that it is impossible for Liverpool merchants and brokers to transmit their market intelligence to their cerrespondents in the West of England so as to include the closing market quotations and the cabled foreign intelligence; and whether he is prepared to make some alteration in order to meet these complaints, and more especially those from the Liverpool Corn Trade Association?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThere has been some misunderstanding. Before the 3rd of October the time of posting at Liverpool for letters sent via Bristol for certain places beyond, to secure the first morning delivery, was 4 p.m. On the 3rd of October the railway company instituted a train between Crewe and Bristol, which appeared to justify a later despatch from Liverpool. The time of posting was therefore extended from 4 p.m. (or 4.30 with late fee) to 5.45 p.m. (or 6.15 with late fee). It was subsequently found that the new train frequently did not keep time, and that the connection with the first morning delivery could not be relied upon. The postmaster of Liverpool thereupon issued a notice to this effect in order that merchants and others might, be aware of the risk involved in the use of the supplementary despatch. The attention of the railway company has been directed to the inconvenience caused by the late running of the train.