§ SIR J. SAVORY (Westmoreland, Appleby)(for Sir SEYMOUR KING, Hull, Central): I beg to ask the Postmaster General why it is a regulation of the Post Office that glass articles, such as bottles, cannot be forwarded abroad by pattern post; and whether such articles are sent by foreign traders from abroad to the United Kingdom by sample post; and, if so, whether he will take steps to afford to British manufacturers and traders 769 the same facilities which are enjoyed by their foreign competitors?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. A. MORLEY,) Nottingham, E.The postal regulations of this country exclude from transmission by ordinary post any article likely to injure the contents of the mails or the officers of the Post Office. Glass bottles come within the prohibition, because, if broken in transit, as they are liable to be, they would be likely to cause injury to letters, &c, contained in the mails, and to the officers handling the mails. I would refer the hon. Member to an answer given by Mr. Raikes on the 3rd of July, 1890, in which he states the reasons, and mentions a letter which he had written on the subject, a copy of which I will send to the hon. Member if he would care to see it.