§ MR. R. H. PAGETasked the Postmaster General, If he will consent to an amendment of the Post Office Regulations to enable cards of the size of the halfpenny post cards to be sent through the Post Office, with an adhesive halfpenny stamp affixed, on conditions similar to those now in force with regard to halfpenny post cards; and, further, if he can amend the Post Office Regulations so as to enable a similar card to be sent with a penny adhesive stamp as a Foreign Post Card, and also to enable a halfpenny post card to be sent as a Foreign Post Card, with the addition of a halfpenny adhesive stamp?
§ MR. FAWCETTSir, the Question of the hon. Member has been carefully considered, but I am sorry to say that I do not think it would be expedient to adopt such a change as he suggests. If cards with letters written upon them were allowed to be sent through the pest with adhesive postage stamps affixed to them, it would be necessary for the officers of the Department to examine such cards carefully, in order to satisfy themselves that the cards were of the proper size and substance, and this would involve much delay in sorting. As regards the 466 latter part of the hon. Member's Question, what he asks for has been for some time allowed, as the public are permitted to send ordinary inland post cards to any country in the Postal Union if postage stamps are affixed to make up the requisite postage.
§ MR. R. H. PAGETsaid, he regretted the unsatisfactory nature of the right hon. Gentleman's reply to the first part of his Question, and gave Notice that on a future occasion he would call the attention of the House to the subject.