Mr. POINTERasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the loss of a valuable post-packet in transit between France and this country; whether he is aware that others besides Post Office servants who have been sworn have the opportunity of handling mails in the sea post offices, and that members of ships' crews are employed tying up and sealing bags; and will he consider the advisability of providing that mails on board ship, which have to be opened or dealt with or unsealed in any way, shall be handled only by regular officers of the Post Office?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. No mail bag is opened in any service under the control of the British Post Office except by a properly authorised Post Office servant. The services of the ships' crews on mail packets are confined to the embarkation, stowing, and disembarkation of closed mail bags. There is no sea post office on the steamers conveying mails between this country and France.