§ Sir WILLOUGHBY DICKINSONI would like to ask a point of Order with regard to a Private Notice question. I gave notice to the Postmaster General with regard to the very important matter of the apparent interception of a large number of letters sent to absent voters by post. Since handing the question to you, Mr. Speaker, I have received a note from the Postmaster-General saying he is unable to be in the House this afternoon. Am I at liberty to ask, notwithstanding that, as it is a matter of vital importance?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have an answer to my right hon. Friend.
§ Sir W. DICKINSONThen I will ask the question, namely, whether he is aware that 7,000 letters sent by the Liberal candidate for North Paddington to the naval and military voters qualified to vote in that constituency were posted at Lanhill Road Post Office on 8th November, sealed, stamped, and properly directed to the addresses used by the mothers and wives of the voters; whether over 1,000 of these letters were returned on 20th November, stamped with the words "Undeliverable as addressed"; what is the reason why these 3463 letters were undeliverable; whether the letters were opened in the post; whether they have been submitted to the Censor, and whether the rest of the letters so posted are being delivered to soldiers and sailors for whom they were intended?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI made a mistake. I have another reply to the right hon. Gentleman dealing with the same subject, but not that particular point.
§ Sir W. DICKINSON (by Private Notice)asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can now say whether the record offices have supplied the registration officers with the full list of addresses of Absent voters?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONYes, Sir; I am informed that the lists have now all been dispatched. My right hon. Friend, who raised this question yesterday, must, I think, have forgotten that the Proclamation does not take place until the 25th November, and that the only promise made, so far as I know, is that the information would be available within forty-eight hours of the Proclamation.
Mr. T. WILSONWill the right hon. Gentleman try to reconcile the contradiction of terms between the Local Government Board's Circular and the Post Office Circular? The Post Office Circular says that at the latest within two days of the Proclamation those communications must be addressed, whilst the Local Government Board Order or Regulation, practically speaking, gives within seven days of the election. It is going to cause confusion, and that means that many soldiers will not have a vote at all.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONSo far as I am aware, the only promise made is that the list is to be available for candidates within forty-eight hours from the date of the Proclamation, 25th November.
§ Sir F. LOWEWill the information be available for candidates? Will the supplementary list be published, or in what way will it be made available?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe supplemental list will be published up to 29th November.
§ Mr. COTTONHow long does the right hon. Gentleman imagine this supplemental list is going to take to print? How, with the present scarcity of labour, are returning officers going to hand over two lists of 8,000 persons to the various candidates?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI can only repeat what I have said, that all the lists have been dispatched, and we are now prepared to issue supplemental lists up to 29th November.
Mr. T. WILSONWill the right hon. Gentleman consult the Post Office with a view to getting the Post Office to have addresses and other matter in connection with the Election sent out at the earliest possible moment to the soldiers at the front?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONYes, certainly.
§ Sir W. DICKINSONIs it not the fact that the Post Office will not guarantee to deliver any of the addresses to the soldiers or sailors unless they are posted before next Wednesday?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThat is at least forty-eight hours after the Proclamation.
§ Sir W. DICKINSONWill the right hon. Gentleman explain, if the corrected lists are not yet delivered to the registration or returning officers, how it is possible to make use of the corrected list in time to comply with the regulations of the Post Office?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAll I know is that a Committee of the different Departments concerned has gone into this matter, and it is now in the hands of the Local Government Board, and I think that my right hon. Friend—
§ Mr. PRINGLEHe is not a Member of this House.
§ Mr. MACPHERSON—will see to it.