§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether there is any other reason for the 801 refusal of the British Post Office to grant the request of the assembled Australasian Postmasters General for payment of their postal orders in the United Kingdom, they undertaking to pay British orders, than the fear of forgery; whether the British Post Office pays postal orders issued in India, the Straits Settlement, Hong-kong, Newfoundland, and the Transvaal; and how many cases of such orders being forged have come to his knowledge; and whether he will reconsider his objection to such an exchange, provided that the Australasian Governments guarantee him against all losses due to forgery?
§ MR. HANBURYNo request of the assembled Australasian Postmasters General for the payment of their postal orders in the United Kingdom, they undertaking to pay British orders, appears to have reached the British Post Office. The British Post Office pays its own postal orders issued in India, the Straits Settlements, Hong-kong, and Newfoundland, but no British postal orders are issued in the Transvaal. The British Post Office has in no case paid a forged postal order. No practicable scheme for the exchange of postal orders has yet been suggested to the Postmaster General.
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say no application has reached him?
§ MR. HANBURYYes; my information is that no such request has been made.