§ SIR SEYMOUR KING () Hull CentralTo ask the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been called to the case of a parcel sent by the new American Parcel Post, the true duty payable on which was 33s. 9d., while the Post Office accepted as security for this sum a deposit of 4s., or less than one-eighth of the amount payable; and will he consider the advisability of increasing the sum required to be deposited to guard against the risk of the consignee not being discoverable when the balance has to be collected.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.)
My attention has been called to the case referred lo. The senders of parcels for the United States undertake in writing to pay the Customs duty on demand; and I see no reason to suppose that any appreciable loss is likely to be incurred under the present system, which appears on the whole to be working quite smoothly. In nearly one-half of the whole number of cases the deposit is; sufficient to cover the total charge for Customs duty.