61. Captain ARTHUR EVANSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that certain letters of greeting carried from Australia to England by Mr. H. L. Brooke have been seized by the Customs authorities; and whether he will state, having regard to the record-breaking achievement of this airman, on what grounds this action was taken?
§ Mr. COOPERI am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the question; the action taken was in accordance with the law, which requires a Customs officer to hand over to the postal authorities any postal packets on board an inward-bound aircraft which are not so handed over by the pilot himself. I would add that the letters have been returned to Mr. Brooke by the postal authorities.
Captain A. EVANSWould not the hon. Gentleman agree that, having regard to all the circumstances of this flight, it was unnecessary for an official of the Customs to insist upon the exact letter of the law in such a case?
§ Mr. COOPERI entirely agree.