§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been called to the regulation exacting a fine of 8d. from the recipient of a letter enclosed in a registered envelope (for which envelope 2d. has to be paid), or in an ordinary envelope marked "registered," in every case where the envelope is inadvertently posted, instead of being handed over the counter; whether he can state for what service or extra labour the Department requires compensation amounting to eight times the ordinary postage; whether express letters may in certain cases be dropped into letter-boxes; and whether he will reduce the fine complained of to the amount of the registration fee?
§ MR. HANBURYThe fine for posting a letter enclosed in a registered envelope in a letter-box instead of handing it in over the counter is 6d., and not 8d., as supposed by the hon. Member. In order that the system of registration may be effectually carried out, it is of great importance that every registered packet should be handed personally to an agent of the Post Office and a receipt obtained. This cannot, of course, be done if the packet is posted in the ordinary way; and the difficulty of tracing it, if lost, is 707 thus largely increased. Only those express letters which are intended to be sent by express after transmission by post can be posted in a letter-box in the ordinary way.