§ MR. FLAVINI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will state the full instructions which were lately issued by the Postmaster General to the postal 1064 staff in connection with the secrecy of telegrams; and whether any inquiry has been made as to the necessity of erecting one or more small compartments in post offices for the complete secrecy of telegrams?
§ MR. HANBURYThe following notice was inserted in the Post Office circular of the 22nd instant—
Counter clerks and others who take in telegrams from the public are enjoined to use every care to ensure privacy. When a telegram is handed back to the sender for the stamps to be affixed, it should either be folded or turned with its face downwards, if other persons are at the counter and are in a position to read the telegram.In pursuance of the promise made to the hon. Member on the 4th instant, inquiry is being made whether any further precautions in regard to secrecy appear to be necessary; but the Postmaster General does not think it would be desirable to provide separate compartments for the work, as such an arrangement would not, in his opinion, be conducive to the convenience of the public or the efficient performance of the work.
§ MR. FLAVINI would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman, in the interests of the telegraph clerks and the general public, if he is aware that in the majority of cases where no separate compartment exists the general public write their telegrams on the counter or open desk, and there are no means of secrecy whatever?
§ MR. HANBURYYes, Sir; but full inquiry will be made into this matter.