§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as 1358 representing the Postmaster General, whether, during the past ten years, numerous inventions and devices for preventing, by means of a mechanical check, the abstraction of letters from postal pillar boxes have been submitted to the Postmaster General, and whether he has now made his selection of the best and most effectual of them; whether one or more of the checks so submitted have long been in use on the Continent; whether, during the ten years referred to, the pillar boxes in the chief towns of this country have been systematically pillaged by thieves, young and old, no protection being afforded by the Department beyond the occasional employment of a detective, and the affixing to pillar boxes of a notice cautioning the public against entrusting valuable letters to them; and whether, in default of a perfect device, he will adopt that which approaches most nearly to perfection?
§ MR. HANBURYDuring the past ten years numerous devices for the purpose of preventing, by mechanical means, the abstraction of letters from postal pillar boxes have been suggested to the Post Office, but, so far, none of them have been found to be capable of effecting the object in view, and at the same time to be free from serious objections in other respects. It is understood that some apparatus of the kind is used in Germany. So far from pillar letter boxes being systematically pillaged, thefts from post office letter boxes are very rare, and there is no intention at present of adopting any of the devices in question.
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONIs the right honourable Gentleman aware that last year there were seven convictions for stealing letters from pillar boxes?
§ MR. HANBURYYes, but the number is not large in comparison with the enormous number of pillar boxes.