Most Parcel Post by Road?
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From our Political Correspondent
fHE Post Office is to make large-scale experiments involving the transport of parcels by road. If they are successful, a considerable amount of rail traffic— particularly local traffic—may be permanently diverted to the roads.
The plan was announced this week in Mr. J. R. Bevins' White Paper "Post Office Prospects. for 1962-3." Now largely an independent commercial concern, the Post Office hopes to increase this year's profit of £20 million to £34 million next year.
An experiment—in East Anglia—has the object of discovering "How far it is possible to improve the parcel post service, and at the same time reduce costs, by concentrating parcel mails on suitable centres." These mails will be "despatched in bulk between these centres, making increased use of road transport for their conveyance, particularly over short distances."
It must be assumed that Mr. Bevins has consulted his colleague Mr. Marples about this experiment. It is interesting, however,'to note that with commercial freedom being applied to the railways. Mr. Bevins is applying some of his new-found freedom in tentative favour of the roads.