The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-05-12 00:00:00

SATURDAY, 'l_o AI i 2, 1883„

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the HOUSE OF LoRDs, May 7, Lord Balfour of Burlefgh
moved a resolution in favour of making such provision as
would enable either House, if it should think fit, to adjourn
the further proceedings upon any Bill which should have
been passed by the other House until the next succeeding
session of Parliament.
The Earl of Redesdale opposed the motion, and Earl
Granville expressed a doubt whether business would be
accelerated by its adoption.
The Marquis of Salisbury did not think the proposal
Would find favour with either party in the other House.
The motion was then withdrawn.

Their lordships rose at a quarter past six o'clock.
In the HOUSE OF CouMoNs, in answer to a question from
Sir R. Cross, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that he had
determined to make a change in the Budget Bill, whereby
the substitution of public officials for the present income-
the collectors would only take place as vacancies occurred.

THE PARCELS POST.

Mr. Macartney asked the Postmaster-General whether he
could not relax the prohibition to the contractors for mail
Carts and cars to be employed by the parcels post with regard
to their carrying parcels under the weight of seven pounds
for the public, so far as to admit of private arrangements
being made by the proprietors of newspapers for the carriage
Of small parcels of newspapers as heretofore.
The Postmaster-General said—With the view of prevent-
ing any interference with the cheap and early circulation of
newspapers in rural districts I have after giving the subject
careful consideration, decided to ' allow contractors for mail
Carts and cars to continue, as at present, to enter into private
arrangements vith newspaper proprietors for the carriage of
Panels o f ne ' wlYpapers but on the understanding that the
carrying of newspapers In no way interferes with either the
letter or parcel postal service. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. McCartney: Will the right hon. gentleman say, if
Possible, when he expects the new parcels post to come into
oPeration
The Postmaster-General : It has been decided that the
inland parcel post shall come into operation on Wednesday,
the Ist of August. A circular will be issued to the public
this afternoon as to the dimensions of parcels and other par-
ticulars. (Hear, hear.
THE GENERAL POST OFFICE.
Mr. Ritchie asked the Postmaster-General whether it was
Proposed to enlarge the accommodation of the Telegraph
Department of the General Post Office by adding a story to
the present building ; what height from the ground the new
storey would be ; how many persons would be located in the
building when completed; and what precautions against fire
it was proposed to take.
Mr. Fawcett said in reply: I may state that the height of
the floor of the new story in the Telegraph Department
above the pavement is 76ft. The maximum number of per-
sons employed in the entire building is about 2,500. Of
ne. urse, the whole number are not employed at one time.
About 800 are employed at night. The building is fire.
proof, and every precaution is taken against fire by having
large tanks on the top of the building and hydrants on each
floor. The means of exit are so good that it is considered
that the whole staff at the busiest time in the day could
leave the building in ten minutes. (Hear, hear.)

In answer to a further question from Mr. Ritchie, Mr,
xawcett stated that to the best of his belief, no more than
2,000 persons were ever employed in the building at the same
time,