§ MR. BOTTOMLEY (Hackney, S.)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Members of this House recently received by post, in envelopes officially franked by the British postal authorities, a circular relating to the Great Royal Saxon State Money 363 Lottery, holding out the chance of a money prize which, it was represented, would, if paid in shillings and put one on the top of the other, be about ten times as high as Westminster Palace; and whether he will take steps to ascertain by whom the circulars were lodged for franking and to bring to justice the persons responsible for this violation of the Lottery Act.
§ THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON,) Tower Hamlets, PoplarIf the hon. Member will furnish me with a copy of the circular and envelope to which he refers, I will make inquiry, and, if necessary, communicate with the police authorities, with whom any question of prosecution rests. I may point out that the "official frank" to which the hon. Member refers merely shows that the postage has been paid, and confers no official character whatever on letters on which it is placed. I have, of course, no power to open closed envelopes for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of their contents.
§ MR. MARKHAMWill the right hon. Gentleman also make inquiries as to other financiers who hold out chances of money prizes which invariably never come off?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONAny circular emanating from any quarter if it contravenes the law should be brought to my notice, and I will thereupon communicate with the proper authorities.
§ MR. BOTTOMLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman extend his inquiry to the circulars of mining engineers?
§ [No Answer was returned.]