§ MR. FRASER-MACKINTOSHI beg to ask the Postmaster General whether parcels reaching the Central Foreign Parcels Post Depot at Clerkenwell, for transmission to foreign countries and the colonies, are acknowledged by a sorter held responsible for their future safe custody, although his duty is fulfilled by placing the parcels in an open rack or basket, accessible to every person entering the department; whether such parcels, though in many instances of a valuable character, nevertheless remain for hours, and in some cases days, in such rack or basket, until actually required by the despatching officer when making up the foreign mails; and whether this officer has any check upon the number of parcels which should be in such rack or basket when making up his despatch?
§ * THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) Cambridge UniversityForeign and colonial parcels are transferred from one part of the office at Mount Pleasant to another in sealed baskets, and whilst awaiting despatch are packed in sealed boxes or baskets, or locked cupboards. Only such persons as are employed in the foreign and colonial branch have access to them. Unless a system of registration were introduced it would be contrary to practice to keep a numerical check on foreign or colonial parcels.