HC Deb 14 May 1906 vol 157 c188
MR. SLOAN

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he can say how many and in what countries are letters, suspected of containing lottery or betting house circulars, detained by the postal authorities.

THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON, Tower Hamlets, Poplar)

The information at present in my possession does not enable me to answer the hon. Member's Question.

MR. HIGHAM (Yorkshire, W.R., Sowerby)

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that those foreign circulars are being posted in large quantities. Is there no means of detecting and stopping them?

MR, SYDNEY BUXTON

We have no right to tamper with closed envelopes.

MR. HIGHAM

Cannot inquiries be made as to the contents?

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

Of whom?

MR, HIGHAM

Surely the person who brings large quantities of letters for franking can be asked.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

It is the custom in this country to treat sealed letters as sacred.

In reply to Mr. SLOAN the right hon. Gentleman said he was making further inquiries into the matter.