Letters and Papers Concerning the Trans-Persian Railway and Other Railways in Persia [‎136v] (272/442)

1905
Oral Answers.
1906
HOUSE OF
COMMONS Oral Answers.
[Mr. C. Bathurst.]
of the growing demand therefor on the
part of small holders, poultry keepers,
market gardeners, and dairymen, he will
inaugurate a system under which the Post
Office will, on delivery, collect from cus
tomers the value of small farm and garden
produce transmitted by parcels post, as is
done in France to the great advantage of
agricultural producers l
Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL: Proposals
have been made from time to time to intro
duce the cash on delivery sj^stem in various
forms, but they have met with much oppo
sition, and it has not been found possible
to proceed with them.
Mr. C. BATHURST: From whom has
the opposition come ?
Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL: That will
appear in the next answer.
84. Mr. C. BATHURST asked the Post
master-General whether he recently stated
in a communication to the Itushden and
Wellingborough Chamber of Trade that, as
a considerable section of the commercial
community are opposed to the cash on
delivery system, he had decided not to
introduce it; and, if so, whether he will
say to what section he refers l
Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL: The answer
to the first part of the question is in the
affirmative. Inquiry was made of nearly
100 Chambers of Commerce, Chambers of
Trade, and other similar associations, and
of these a large majority were strongly op
posed to the introduction of a cash on
delivery service between the United King
dom and European countries.
Mr. C. BATHURST: Notwithstanding
that, would the right hon. Gentleman con
sider it worth while to consult Chambers
of Agriculture which are more nearly con
cerned ?
Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL: I do not
think that assumption would apply to this
particular case.
Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN: Has
the right hon. Gentleman made inquiries as
to the extension of the system beyond the
internal post l
Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL: Inquiries
were made a few years ago, either by my
right hon. Friend the present President of
the Board of Trade, or a predecessor, and
he found that the state of opinion was
such that it was not possible to proceed
with the project.
Mr. FLAVIN : Is the right hon. Gentle
man aware that the cash on delivery sys
tem has been in operation for twenty years
in many countries, and has been an un
qualified success?
Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL: I know that
in many countries the system is in exist
ence and is successful. But I am not sure
we can always follow an example of the
sort.
Mediterranean Protected Cruisers.
3. Mr. MIDDLEMORE asked the First
Lord of the Admiralty whether, under the
German Navy Laws, substitute vessels are
laid down to replace protected cruisers
when the latter have reached an age of
fifteen years; and how many years have
elapsed since the launch of the British pro
tected cruisers “Diana,” “Medea,” and
“Barham,” now in the Mediterranean?
Dr. MACNAMARA: The reply to the
first part of the question is in the nega
tive. The dates of launch of the three
ships named are December, 1895, June,
1888, and September, 1889, respectively.
Mr. M! DDLEMORE : Is the right hon.
Gentleman aware that the boilers of the
“Medea” do not work?
Dr. MACNAMARA : No, I am not aware
of that.
Upbrooks Farm, Clitheroe (Small Holders).
16. Mr. ALBERT SMITH asked the
President of the Board of Agriculture
whether he is aware that nothing is being
done to meet the requirements of the small
holders on the Upbrooks Farm, Clitheroe,
with regard to housing; and whether he
will make inquiries with a view to pro
viding houses to meet such requirements ?
The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of
AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman): The
county council have informed the Board
that the farmhouse has been adapted and
let to two of the applicants, and that plans
have been prepared for building four new
houses and rebuilding an old cottage. The
council will submit the plans and specifica
tions for the final approval of the Board, if
the applicants are willing to take the
houses on lease for a term of five years.
Mr. MORRELL : Can the right hon. Gen
tleman say how long this proposal has been
before the Board of Agriculture ?
Mr. RUNCIMAN: I cannot say without
notice.