§ 92. Mr. Osborneasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that postal packets from the U.S.A. are now taking two months to reach this country; to what extent the delay is on this side of the Atlantic; and what steps he will take to expedite deliveries.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingThe mail service from the United States of America is the responsibility of the United States Post Office. Surface mails (letters and newspapers) are taking an average of 10–11 days in transmission from New York and 19–20 days from Chicago and San Francisco. I am unaware of any delay in distribution in this country, but if the hon. Member has any specific case in mind I shall be pleased to have inquiries made if he would send me the details. Parcel mails are taking up to four weeks in conveyance from New York and about 10 days longer from Chicago and San Francisco. Owing to the heavy volume of traffic, it is inevitable in present conditions that some little time must elapse before parcels are cleared through the Postal Customs Depots.