P.M.-Gen.: Write telling this fellow that we all hate halfpenny matter, and that the stamp must be affixed on the address side. Tell him, too, that I do not propose to alter the rule. Put our reason obscurely, but the decision emphatically. No penalty is imposed for affixing stamps to the backs of letters; but I do not propose to alter the rule.
Sec.: What about this?
St Leonards-on-Sea,
August 13th, 1906.
Sir,—Yesterday morning (before I was down) my servant took in five post cards each bearing a penny stamp on the back in place of the address, and I had to pay 1s. 3d. for them.
They were sent me by the Maire of Tréport, and I should imagine that this abominable surcharge does not arise in the French Post Office, or surely he would know of the irregularity.
P.M.-Gen.: Inform this correspondent that the
charge of 3d. on each post card represented double the
deficient postage at the letter rate, and was therefore
rightly collected on each card. I do not recognize
the penny on the back of each card.
Sec.: Now comes a discontented stationer.
Sir,—Your department charges me 20 to 30 per cent above cost price for printing halfpenny stamps on "private post cards" sent to them for impression. I save them the trouble and expense of supplying me with gummed and perforated halfpenny stamps by forwarding 100,000 post cards for the impression. I ask that the charge be abolished.
