§ On the Motion of Mr. Spring Rice, the House went into Committee on the Post-office Laws in Ireland, and the right hon. Gentleman having proposed 1225 two Resolutions—one empowering the Postmaster General to establish penny posts in any town in Ireland, and another that it was expedient to amend the Irish Post-office laws generally
Mr. Humesaid, that he had before called the attention of the Government to the practice of clerks in the Post-office being newspaper-sellers, which he hoped would now be put an end to. Exclusive of the impropriety of such officers being diverted from their duty, a strong prejudice must arise from the fact that sometimes newspapers sent by news agents did not go in proper time, while those sent by the Post-office clerks did not fail in their regular arrival. This gave an impression of unfair dealing, and whatever gave rise to that should be done away. If there were not power in the Post-master General to abate this, he ought to have it by the new Act.
§ Lord Althorpsaid, there was power enough in the House as it stood to put an end to this practice; but if it were put a stop to, there must be a considerable addition to the salaries of the clerks in the Post-office.
Mr. Humesaid, that economist as he was, he would willingly grant an addition of salary in such a case, as he looked upon the taking of fees by public officers as a most pernicious practice.
§ House resumed.