We trust that the demand for an Agricultural Parcels Post
—that is, the conveyance of small quantities of batter, eggs, vegetables, fruit, cream, Sx., through the Post Office at cheap rates—will not be overlooked by the Government. Nothing -could possibly be a greater boon to the farmer, and indeed to the consumer in general. Thousands of men who spend their holidays in the country, or who have country relations, have thought out the problem of how to get country produce from the farmers by Parcels Post ; but their plans almost always fail -owing to the cost of postage. If cheap rates could be intro- duced, the increased market opened to the farmer without a middleman would be enormous. Of course the town shopkeepers would complain. There is, however, no real ground for con- sidering this objection fatal, unless of course the Agricultural Parcels Post were to be so managed as to bring great loss to the nation. But there is no reason for that. The Post Office -could, we believe, lower its rates as suggested, and yet pay the expenses. All that is needed is that it should give up its profit on agricultural produce sent by Parcels Post, In all probability, however, it need not do this, for the increase of business would be enormous, and a very small margin of profit might make a large return.
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