§ SIR EDWARD WATKIN (Hythe)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether, in the matter of "Postal Orders," any official of the Post Office (and, if so, whom), has received any reward for initiating or perfecting that system; and, if so, whether the claims of Mr. Cotton, of Exeter, as put forward by the Chamber of Commerce of Exeter, were at all taken into account?
§ * THE POST MASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) University of CambridgeIn answer to the hon. Member, I have to say that no official of the Post Office received any reward either for initiating or perfecting the system of Postal Orders. I would add that Mr. Cotton's claims have been fully considered; but there appeared to be no justification for making a recommendation in his favour.
§ SIR E. WATKINMay I ask whether any Departmental inquiry has been made into the question?
§ * MR. RAIKESAt this time it is difficult to say who the first person was who originated the idea. It appears to have occurred to more than one person about the same time. The hon. Baronet seems to have a great idea of the importance of the matter; but it does not appear to me that it was a discovery which was due to the exercise of an enormous amount of genius.