§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Postmaster General, Whether letters stamped "official paid" are exempted from all charge for re-direction; whether letters stamped "paid" are subjected to the ordinary charge for re-direction; whether many letters and packets, sent out by and for the Imperial Institute, have been re-directed and delivered without charge for such re-direction; and, whether he can now state the date at which the quarterly account was opened for the Imperial Institute with the Post Office; how much appears to the debit of the account; and how much has been actually paid?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)The answer to the first and second paragraphs of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative. The paying account for the Imperial Institute was only opened on the 31st of January last, so that the fir3t quarter has not yet expired; but the account will be rendered as soon as the month expires, and payment will be demanded. There have been cases of re-direction of letters within the same delivery which, as in the case of ordinary correspondence, require no extra fee, and no cases have yet come to notice of re-directions to addresses beyond the free delivery. A careful check on the postage will be kept, and a special and distinct stamp will be used in lieu of the present one, which will greatly facilitate the object in view.