We have dealt elsewhere with aspects of the Budget problems
connected with the fight against Socialism, and made special references to the Post Office and the National Debt. Both of these matters were the subjects of detailed. discussion on Tuesday. On that day the Postmaster-General received a deputation from represen- tatives of the Printing Trades. They strongly urged a return to the penny letter post and the halfpenny post- card, and pointed out the injurious effect of dear com- munication. We, of course, agree, though we hold that the right thing to press for is a return to the postal system before the War in all respects. Sir William Mitchell- Thomson in his reply was guarded, and spoke of the necessity for facing a considerable capital expenditure in regard to Telephones—a very un- scientific reason for bad trading in the matter of communications and the vital and potentially lucrative work of parcel-carrying. The truth is, as we have ex- plained elsewhere, the Post Office does not at present function as it could and should. Why not, since we cannot end it, mend it by treating it as a business propo- sition?
Previous page
