Sir F. HALLasked the Postmaster-General on whose instructions excess postage is being charged in this country on letters sent from Southern Ireland and franked with British stamps; and what are the reasons for making this excess charge, having regard to the fact that thousands of unused British stamps are in circulation in the South of Ireland for which the Imperial Exchequer has received payment?
§ Mr. PEASEThe administration of the Post Office in Southern Ireland, since the 1st of last month, has been vested in the Provisional Government of the Trish Free State, and only the stamps specially overprinted for use in the Free State are valid for letters posted there. In ordinary course, letters for this country bearing British stamps not so overprinted are treated by the Free State 1383W Post Office as unpaid, and become liable to a charge of double postage on delivery, but the value of any British stamps which they bear is deducted from the charge.