§ MR. BUCHANAN (Aberdeenshire, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been directcd to certain cases in which postmasters at curing stations are alleged 697 to be themselves interested in the curing trade, and to have made prior use for their own advantage of telegrams addressed to other curers before these telegrams were delivered to the addressees; and what steps he will take to prevent the recurrence of these grievances during the ensuing fishing season?
§ MR. HANBURYIt is understood that the Question of the honourable Member refers to the sub-postmasters of Balta Sound and Castle Bay. A recent sub-postmaster of Balta Sound was engaged in the curing trade. But it is not known that the present sub-postmaster has any share in curing business. The sub-postmaster of Castle Bay is alleged to be an agent of a fish-curing firm at Leith. But there is no official knowledge on the point. The attention of the Postmaster General has not been directed to any cases in which the sub-postmasters of these offices have made prior use for their own advantage of telegrams addressed to other curers, and he has no reason to believe that any illegitimate use would be made by them of information which they might obtain in the course of their official duties.