§ Lieut.-Commander BURNEYasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a letter posted in London at 10 a.m. on Saturday is not delivered at Northwood, Middlesex, before Monday morning following; and whether steps will be taken to speed up delivery?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe facts are as stated. In order to afford the postmen a half-holiday on one day in the week, the delivery on Saturday afternoons at Northwood has been advanced from 4.15 p.m. to noon with the concurrence of the parish council, and the latest time of posting at the London chief office to connect with the noon delivery is 9.30 a.m. Persons desirous of obtaining letters which arrive296W too late for inclusion in this delivery may call at Northwood post office on Saturday afternoons and obtain any correspondence available free of charge. It is reported that this facility is very little used. There are many places where, in order to afford the postmen partial relief on one day in the week, the afternoon delivery is either suspended or advanced with the concurrence of the local authority; and I have at present no evidence that the position occasions serious inconvenience at Northwood.