§ MR. G. W. E. LODER (Brighton)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware of the great inconvenience, loss, and annoyance which have been caused by the postal authorities in this country suddenly, and without notice, refusing to accept parcels of plants and flowers forwarded from abroad by sample post; whether such a custom has prevailed for years, with the knowledge and 634 permission of the Post Office; and whether he can state why it has been put a stop to in this country, while such parcels are accepted in other countries of the Postal Union under similar conditions?
§ MR. HANBURYThe Post Office have refused to accept parcels of plants and flowers forwarded from abroad by sample post, because, by a recent decision of the Postal Union, flowers, when not bonâ-fide samples, cannot any more than other articles be sent by sample post. Pending such a decision, flowers were allowed to be imported into this country by sample post, although not bonâ-fide trade patterns or samples of merchandise, and until recently this constituted a preference in favour of the foreign as against the home trade.
§ In reply to a further question by Mr. LODER,
§ MR. HANBURYsaid the English postal authorities were not affected by the decision pecuniarily. The French were.
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONBut is the right hon. Gentleman aware that those flowers were sent by English residents abroad to their friends at home?
§ MR. HANBURYYes, but that does not alter the fact that the French have to pay.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLAre flowers to be treated as contraband of war?
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