*MR. COMPTON BICRETT (Scarborough)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, why it is that the charge for a re-directed telegram has to be paid by the receiver before the message is delivered at an hotel; and, on the other 263 hand, if a re-directed message is sent from the hotel, why the charge has: to be paid before the message can be accepted by the Post Office; and whether the rule is uniformly followed in the case of hotels and boarding-houses?
§ MR. HANBURYThe Postmaster General is not aware that a distinction is made between an hotel and any other house in the delivery of a re-directed telegram. If the charge for re-direction has not been prepaid, it is the duty of the messenger to endeavour to obtain it from the addressee. On the other hand, the rule requiring the charge for a telegram re-directed from an hotel or boardinghouse to be prepaid was adopted because of the loss the Department had sustained from being unable to obtain payment of the re-direction fee in such cases, and so far as the Postmaster General is aware this rule is uniformly applied.