HC Deb 09 August 1901 vol 99 cc286-7
MR. HENNIKER HEATON

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that, in the case of money orders drawn in England in favour of persons in Germany, it is unnecessary to write to the persons to whom they are addressed, because the German postal authorities take the money direct to the houses of the addressees and receive receipts; and whether he will introduce this practice in England if the German postal authorities supply evidence that the system works well both as regards telegraph and postal money orders.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

The Postmaster General is aware of the arrangement referred to by the hon. Member. The question of introducing it into the United Kingdom has already been fully considered in all its details, with the assistance of the German post office; and the Postmaster General is convinced that from the point of view of the public as well as of the Post Office the arrangement would be much less satisfactory than that which already obtains here.

MR. HENNIKER HEATON

asked whether the Postmaster General would give the system a trial.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

I understand that in the opinion of the advisers of the Postmaster General the difficulty of identification would be greater in this country than in Germany, where more is known about individuals, and money orders would miscarry and fail to reach the persons for whom they are intended.