§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE (Exeter)I beg to ask the Postmaster General if his attention has been called to an article in the Western Morning News of 12th June, entitled "Who invented Postal Orders;" if the statements contained in that article are correct; or, if their accuracy is disputed, will he lay upon the Table of the House the correspondence in his possession relating to Mr. W. Cotton's claim to be regarded as the inventor of postal orders; and, if the circumstances are substantially as stated in the Western Morning News, will Her Majesty's Government be prepared to take some steps to mark their appreciation of the value of Mr. Cotton's suggestion?
§ * THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) University of CambridgeIn reply to my hon. Friend, I have to state that I have seen the article to which he refers. Mr. Cotton has, no doubt, taken intelligent interest in the subject of the transmission of small sums through the post, and the Department has received many interesting communications from him. Although his representations have been very carefully considered, my Predecessors appear to have purposely refrained from pronouncing an opinion as to who, amongst numerous claimants, is entitled to be regarded as the inventor of the Postal Order. I do not see how, after the lapse of so many years, I can be in so good a position as they were to decide the question, which I hope my hon. Friend will forgive me for saying does not appear to me to be of transcendent importance, as the inven- 696 tion, though doubtless useful, involved no particular scientific attainment; and I do not think any advantage would be gained by laying on the Table of the House the correspondence alluded to, which is somewhat voluminous.
§ SIR S. NORTHCOTEIn consequence of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to give Notice that I will, on a future day, call attention to the subject.