HC Deb 02 May 1898 vol 57 cc8H-9
MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, considering that more than 60,000,000 of postal orders are annually issued of a total value exceeding £23,000,000 sterling, and that postal orders are generally, and in the case of small orders almost invariably, left blank, and that blank orders constitute a serious temptation to needy employees, he will inquire into the offer of a well-known firm to supply the department with forms of orders rising by 6d. at a time from 1s. to £1 1s., and provided with a detachable counterfoil (marked with the date, number, and amount, and office of issue), for less than half the sum now paid for the present orders; and whether he is aware that by the Mandat-Carte system (under which the sender purchases a kind of postcard marked with the sum to be remitted, such sum being delivered, together with the postcard, to the payee by the postman) all chance of fraud, theft, and mistake is obviated, and that this system has proved a great success in Germany, Switzerland, and other countries?

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) Preston

By 28 and 29 Vict., cap. 98, it is made a felony to use or imitate the Bank of England paper, on which postal orders are printed. Naturally, no other firm can use it except the Bank of England. The Postmaster General sees no reason to abandon the protection which the use of this paper affords, and the special safeguards which are maintained over the manufacture and printing. It is not proposed, therefore, to make any inquiry in the direction suggested. The Postmaster General is not aware that by the Mandat-Carte system all chance of fraud, theft, and mistake is obviated in Germany and Switzerland. But he is aware that the conditions and regulations imposed with regard to the payment of money orders in those countries are such as he could not impose in this country.

MR. HENNIKER HEATON

Will the right honourable Gentleman give it a trial?

MR. HANBURY

No; the conditions make that impossible.