§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, when a letter duly and properly stamped is undelivered through any cause, it is returned to the sender, and a fine of 2d. is imposed; under what authority is the fine imposed; whether he is aware that a letter addressed by a firm in Ramsgate on the 22nd June was duly stamped and posted; and, on being returned because the addressee could not be found, the postman demanded 2d. from the senders, which was refused; but that a few day afterwards the letter came concealed in a returned letter envelope, and the servants of the firm paid the fine; and, will he explain why the Department refused to repay the fine when the firm demanded its repayment on the ground that it was obtained by a trick?
§ MR. HANBURYA letter such as described in the hon. Member's Question would not be liable to a fine on its return to the sender. No case corresponding exactly to that set forth in the Question can be traced to the Post Office, but if the hon. Member will give particulars, inquiry shall be made and an answer given to him. It is desirable that the envelope should be sent to the Post Office.