§ SIR WILLIAM HOULDSWORTHI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the practice of returning undelivered postcards to the senders has been discontinued; and, if so, whether, considering the great inconvenience to the public from the new regulation, he will, where practicable, revert to the original rule as in the case of ordinary letters?
§ MR. HANBURYThe practice of returning undelivered postcards to the senders has not been entirely discontinued; but since the 1st January 1895 only such cards have been returned as bear a request from the senders to that effect, and on these a return postage of ½d. is charged. On the date mentioned redirection charges on postcards and all other halfpenny postal packets were abolished, and in connection with this charge the late Postmaster General felt bound to revise the practice in regard to the return of such packets when undeliverable. Having regard to the fact that the conveyance by post of all half-penny matter is generally unremunerative, the Postmaster General cannot see his way to revert to the original practice and return postcards free of cost.