§ Sir F. NELSONasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that packets sent by air mail to or from India when found to be insufficiently stamped are taken off the mail plane and transmitted by steamer; and, if so, whether, in view of the delay and hardship to senders and recipients, he will take steps to secure instead the procedure of collecting the deficiency at the destination?
§ Mr. VIANTI am aware of this practice, which is prescribed by international regulations. Insufficiently stamped letters are, however, forwarded by air mail when the underpayment is obviously due to an error in weighing, and in other cases efforts are made, when the senders are known, to give them an opportunity of making up deficiencies. As regards the second part of the question, it many cases the recipients would undoubtedly refuse to pay the sums involved, which are often considerable, and I regret that I am not able to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.