§ MR. SKEWES-COX (Surrey, Kingston)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he will give such directions as will ensure that letters and parcels are so stamped that the date and hour of posting may be legibly and distinctly marked on them by the officials of the post office.
LORD STANLEYAs I stated on the 3rd instant in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Canterbury, † attention has frequently been called to the necessity for making clear postmarks on letters. At the same time it should be borne in mind that postmarking is generally done under conditions of great pressure, and the public would not, I am sure, willingly submit to any curtailment of facilities in order that additional time might be given to making clearer impressions. In many cases, too, the bulky and uneven nature of the contents of letters and parcels makes a clear impression difficult. I am again calling the attention of the staff to the subject.