§ COLONEL WELBY () TauntonTo ask the Postmaster Gentral whether he is aware that in the West Country, and other parts of the United Kingdom, lottery and gambling circulars are being distributed through the post; and sending whether he can see his way to make the sending of these circulars through the post a punishable offence.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) When lottery circulars are posted in open covers they are withheld from delivery. But the majority of these circulars appear to be sent in colsed envelopes, and as the Post Office has no cognizance of the contents of such envelopes, the transmission of the packets cannot be prevented. I do not think that I should be justified in seeking powers to interfere with any colsed letters.