§ 26. Mr. GINNELLasked the Postmaster-General whether he will explain why letters and parcels addressed in Irish are now rejected at post offices which have hitherto freely taken them for transmission; will he say what the reason is for the change where clerks are competent to deal with matter so addressed; and how the Department proposes to treat matter addressed in Irish in future?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Captain Norton)Under a long-standing rule, no parcel or registered letter should be accepted for transmission by post if addressed in characters other than those in ordinary use in the United Kingdom. Recently a few parcels addressed in Irish were accepted by mistake at a sub-post office, and by way of 265 exception were forwarded to their destinations after a translation had been added in the Dublin Sorting Office.
§ Mr. GINNELLHas it not been the custom during the last ten years to forward letters and parcels without question in Dublin, addressed in Irish, and why has that custom been departed from?
§ Captain NORTONNo, Sir, that is not so. The rule is that when the person tendering the parcel chooses to offer translation the parcel is taken. If he is unable to do so, and the postal official is able to translate he does so. If not, it is sent in the ordinary way to Dublin.
§ Mr. GINNELLWhat is done in regard to letters not handed in, but posted?
§ Captain NORTONThey are dealt with in precisely the same way.