§ MR. GRAYasked the Postmaster General, Whether he will investigate the statement made by Mr. H. A. Bunting, of Didsbury, Manchester, and reported in The Postal Telegraphic and Tele- 1676 phonic Gazette of May 2nd, to the effect that, on presenting at thirty-three post offices in the neighbourhood a test parcel certified under one pound in weight, three branch offices, ten town receiving offices, and two country sub-offices demanded payment of sixpence instead of the legal charge of threepence, owing to their scales being inaccurate, and wrongly representing the parcel as over one pound in weight; whether weights and scales used for postal purposes are exempt from the supervision of the ordinary inspectors of weights and measures; whether, if they are inaccurate, any person can be held responsible criminally or civilly; and, whether there is any system of inspection of such weights and scales, or any guarantee to the public of their accuracy?
§ MR. FAWCETTIt has been the practice to carefully test the weights and scales used in post offices before they have been issued by the Department, and periodically to examine them. Before the letter to which the hon. Member refers appeared, I considered the question of whether it might not be expedient to take some further steps to secure the accuracy of the weights and scales. I have been in communication with the Board of Trade on the subject, with the object of allowing the inspection of the weights and scales by the regular local Inspectors. If any person is overcharged through a letter or parcel being inaccurately weighed, the amount would, of course, be returned to him by the Post Office.
§ MR. FAWCETTOh, yes; certainly.