§ 44. Mr. Pageasked the Postmaster- General upon what principles or definition a decision is made as to whether a card contains a conventional greeting, when the postage is 2d., or a message, when the postage is 2½d.; and who makes the decision.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonBroadly, the distinction is between messages which give or ask for information and formulas of a conventional kind which do not. "Arrived safely. Weather shocking." costs 2½d. but "Greetings to all in Walton" goes for 2d. The decision is taken by sorting office staff, who are provided with printed official guidance.