HC Deb 12 February 1895 vol 30 c546
*SIR J. LENG (Dundee)

I beg to ask the Postmaster General, with regard to the fact that when a ½ d. stamp is, by inadvertence, neglected to be placed on an Inland post card the charge of 2d. is made on its delivery, whether there is any reason why a fine of 1½ d. on the delivery of ½ d. post card, although recognised by the Postal Union in the case of Foreign and Colonial postage, should not be reduced in our Inland postage?

MR. A. MORLEY

A charge of 2d. on the delivery of an unpaid inland card, which, if prepaid, might have been, transmitted for ½ d., may appear high, but, as I explained in replying to a question from the hon. Member for Canterbury on the 7th inst., prepayment is necessary to constitute a card a post card. When posted unstamped, the card can, under the regulations of the Postal Union, only be dealt with as an unpaid letter, and, in my judgment, it is convenient to apply to Inland post cards, the rules which are enforced throughout the Union in the case of International post cards. I may add that, in other countries where the privilege of using private cards has been conceded, the, unstamped card is treated, as it is treated here, as an unpaid letter.