§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, will he explain why it is forbidden to post letters for Germany on board the day mail-boat, which lies for some hours every morning at Queen-borough, the rule being to bring such letters, if posted at Queenborough in the morning, back to London, thus causing a delay of 24 hours in delivery at Berlin; whether he is aware that in consequence urgent letters have to be smuggled across in the day mail-boat, and posted in the Berlin train at Flushing; and whether he will direct that such letters shall in future be received on board every mail-boat up to the last moment possible?
§ MR. HANBURYThere are, I believe, no facilities for posting letters to Germany on board the day mail-packets from Queenborough. These are Dutch packets not under the control of the British Post Office. If any letters for Germany are posted at Queenborough in the morning, they circulate by way of London as the honourable Member states. It is not known that there is any smuggling of urgent letters to be posted in the Berlin train at Flushing; but inquiries shall be made with the view to ascertain whether anything is wanted; and, if so, what can be done.