§ MR. ARTHUR LEE (Hampshire, Fareham)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that the sheets of postage stamps at present issued to the public display a tendency to tear anywhere but along the lines of perforation, and whether he will take steps to have this peculiarity corrected.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINIt is undesirable to adopt a system of perforating with larger holes than those at present employed, because the sheets of stamps at the various post offices would not keep entire. The stamps would be liable to become separated whenever the sheets were handled. The dividing of the sheets is greatly facilitated by tearing them first in the long direction and afterwards across.
§ MR. ARTHUR LEEMay I point out that the stamps of foreign countries do not tear in the same way, so that the difficulty could be easily overcome.