27. Mr. B. Harrisonasked the Postmaster-General if he will make arrangements for airmail letters insufficiently prepaid with the sender's name on the envelope to be returned to the sender rather than sent by ordinary mail to their destination.
§ Mr. MarplesI do not think the public would welcome the arrangement suggested. At present comparatively few under-paid airmail letters with the sender's name and address on the envelope are sent on by surface route. The great majority of such letters are already forwarded by air: the Post Office makes up the postage and asks the sender to refund the money.
Mr. HarrisonWhilst thanking the Postmaster-General for that reply, may I ask whether he can have instructions sent round to post offices that when they send these letters by ordinary mail they will advise the sender? Is he aware that I know of cases where manufacturers have lost export orders through the mistake of their clerical staff in not putting the right amount of postage on the envelopes?
§ Mr. MarplesThat would probably mean an addition to manpower which might not be justified, but I will look into the matter. If at least 75 per cent. of the airmail fee, that is, the difference between surface and airmail postage, is paid the letter is sent by airmail.