§ MR. FORREST FULTON (West Ham, N.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether his attention has been drawn to an Order of the Board of Customs, under date 22nd February, 1887, abrogating the privilege accorded from time immemorial to the officers of Customs in the Port of London of communicating with each other by means of the official bags; and, whether he can explain the necessity for this restriction?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)It came to the knowledge of the Board of Customs that letters and documents which had no relation to public official business were frequently sent in the official bags to different parts of the Port of London. An order was, therefore, issued that no documents were to be sent in the bags unless they related to public official business. The Board see no reason for altering their decision.