§ MR. BELLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that a burglary occurred at the sub-post office at Ingrow, near Keighley, Yorks, on the 11th January: that stamps and other articles to the value of some £30 were stolen; and that the then sub-postmaster is being compelled, on threat of legal proceedings, to make good the amount to the Post Office Employees Mutual Guarantee Association. Limited; whether this has his sanction, and whether it was laid down by the Postmaster General in office when the Guarantee Association was founded that cases of burglary should be so dealt with, and whether, in connection with such cases, he is prepared to move in the direction of adopting some system which will not involve innocent men in the service of the Post Office in financial ruin in the event of a burglary.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe Postmaster General was not satisfied that the loss of post office property at the, Ingrow office was due to burglary, and the late sub-postmaster was therefore called upon to make good the amount. He stated that he was unable to do so, and his sureties paid it in the ordinary course. The Postmaster General cannot interfere in regard to any steps which the sureties may take to recover the amount from, the late sub-postmaster.