§ Sir B. CHADWICKasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the mistakes occurring in the transmission of telegrams to and from Messrs. Paul Brothers, Homepride Mills, Birkenhead; whether he is aware that such errors as the following have occurred, namely, the substitution of the number 10 for the number 1,000, the substitution of the price 7s. for the price 8s., the substitution of the price 30s. for the price 40s., the substitution of the word sheep 1607W for the word ship, etc.; whether he is aware that, during the past two years, Messrs. Paul Brothers have repeatedly made written complaints to the postmasters at Birkenhead and Wallasey regarding these discrepancies; and whether he will take immediate action in the matter.
§ Mr. HARTSHORNI much regret the mistakes that have occurred in Messrs. Paul Brothers' telegrams. These were caused by errors in transmission at separate offices. Those quoted by the hon. Member occurred during a period of nearly 10 months, and, as Messrs Paul Brothers send and receive some 750 telegrams a month, the total during this period probably numbered many thousands. Every effort is made to maintain
Inland and Foreign and Colonial Postage Rates. — As at 3 June, 1918. As from 1 June, 1920. As from 1 Sept., 1920. As from 13 June, 1921. As from 29 May, 1922. As from 14 May, 1923. Inland Letters. 4 oz. 1½.; each addl. oz. ½d. 3 oz. 2d; each addl. oz. ½d. No change No change 1 oz. 1½d.; 3 oz. 2d.; each addl, oz. ½d. 2 oz. l½d.; each addl. 2 oz. ½d. Inland Printed Papers. 1 oz. ½d.; 2 oz. 1d. (Then by letter rate.) 1 oz. ½d.; 2 oz. 1d.; each addl. 2 oz. ½d. up to 2 lb No change 2 oz. 1d.; each addl. 2 oz. ½d. up to 2 lb. 1 oz. ½d.; (Subject to special conditions of posting); 2 oz. 1d; each addl. 2 oz. ½d. up to 2 lb. 2 oz. ½d. (Subject to special conditions of posting); each addl. 2 oz. ½d. up to 2 lb. Inland Post cards. 1d. No change No change 1½d. 1d. No change. Inland Newspapers. 6 oz. ½d.; each addl. 6 oz. ½d.: up to 2 lb. No change 6 oz. 1d.; each addl. 6 oz. ½d. up to 2 lb No change No change No change Inland Parcels. 3 lb. 6d.; 7 lb. 9d.; 11 lb. 1s. 2 lb. 9d.; 51b. 1s.; 81b. 1s.3d.; 11 lb.1s.6d. No change No change No change 2 lb. 6d.; 5 lb. 9d.; 8 lb. 1s.; 11 lb. 1s. 3d. Foreign Letters. 1 oz. 2½d.; each addl. oz. 1½d. No change No change 1 oz. 3d.; each addl. oz. 1½d. No change 1 oz. 2½d.; each: addl. oz. 1½d. Imperial & U.S.A Letters. 1 oz. 1½d.; each addl. oz. 1d. 1 oz. 2d.; each addl. oz. 1d. No change 1 oz. 2d.; each addl. oz. 1½d. 1 oz. 1½d.; each addl. oz. 1½d. 1 oz. 1½d.; each addl. oz. 1d. Postal rates were increased in 1920 and 1921 and reduced in 1922 and 1923. I regret it is not possible to estimate the financial effect of each change separately, but I may state that the cash revenue from postal services for 1921–22 exceeded that for 1919–20 by £7,170,000, and the revenue for 1923–24 fell below that for 1921–22 by £6,872,000. 1608W a high standard of accuracy in the telegraph service, but it is impossible under any telegraph system to eliminate all risk of error. From a recent return for the country, the number of complaints of error in telegrams is, on an average, less than one per thousand messages, and all complaints are investigated and suitable disciplinary action is taken when officers of the Post Office are in fault.