HC Deb 27 July 1896 vol 43 cc688-9
MR. GORELL BARNES (Kent, Faversham)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, will he explain why it is that a cheque crossed to payee's account and payable at a specified bank may be written on an ordinary postcard, and so transmitted through the post, whereas it is forbidden by the regulations to transmit an ordinary cheque, crossed and payable as aforesaid, in an open envelope at the halfpenny book-post rate; and, whether he will direct that in future a cheque crossed to payee's account and payable at a specified bank shall be transmissible (as being valueless to any but the person named therein as payee) in an open envelope at the book-rate?

* MR. HANBURY

It does so happen that there is no regulation forbidding the transmission by post of an ordinary postcard on which a cheque crossed or otherwise may have been written, but the Postmaster General has never heard of such a postcard having been sent—[my hon. Friend Mr. Barnes, has however, just shown me one]—and if cheques were so sent it might be the duty of the Postmaster General to take measures to stop the practice. The transmission of paper money of any kind in open envelopes is obviously undesirable and places temptation in the way of officers of the Department and others into whose hands the packets may come. Paper money is defined in the warrant which forbids the transmission of such packets as meaning, inter alia, "all orders and authorities for the payment of money whether negotiable or not," and the Postmaster General is not prepared to take any steps for allowing crossed cheques to be sent in open covers at the book-post rate.

MR. BARNES

May I ask whether the postcard which I have shown to the right hon. Gentleman has been sent through the Post Office contrary to regulations?

* MR. HANBURY

I do not think it is contrary to the regulations at present. But the Postmaster General is of opinion that if it becomes a habit a regulation would have to be framed forbidding it.

MR. BARNES

At the present moment the sending of such cheques is not forbidden?

MR. HANBURY

No, Sir.