Canadian Postal Guide Part 11

FRANKING AND FREE LETTERS.

[Sidenote: Matter exempt from postage.]

The following matter is exempt from Provincial Postage:

All letters and other mailable matter addressed to or sent by the Governor General of Canada, or addressed to or sent by any Public Department at the seat of Government.

All letters and other mailable matter addressed to or sent by the Speaker or Chief Clerk of the Legislative Council or of the Legislative a.s.sembly; or to or by any Member of the Legislature at the Seat of Government during any Session of the Legislature, or addressed to any of the Members or Officers in this Section mentioned at the Seat of Government as aforesaid, during the ten days next before the meeting of Parliament.

All public doc.u.ments and printed papers sent by the Speaker or Chief Clerk of the Legislative Council or Legislative a.s.sembly, to any Member of either of the said branches of the Legislature of Canada, during the recess of Parliament.

All papers printed by order of either branch of the Legislature of Canada, sent by Members of either branch of the said Legislatures, either during the Session or recess.

[Sidenote: Signature required in addresses.]

Public doc.u.ments and printed papers sent under the two foregoing clauses, should bear, as part of the address, the bona fide superscription of the Speaker, Chief Clerk, or officer specially deputed for this purpose to act for those functionaries, or of the Member sending the same.

[Sidenote: P. M. G., D. P. M. G. & Post Office Inspectors.]

All letters to and from the Postmaster General and the Deputy Postmaster General; and all official communications to and from the Post Office Department and to and from the Post Office Inspectors, are to pa.s.s free of any Provincial postage.

[Sidenote: Military departments and officers.]

Letters on Her Majesty's service pa.s.sing between the United Kingdom and Canada, to or from the following Imperial Military Departments, are exempt from Canadian postage:

Military Secretary.

Adjutant General.

Quarter-Master General.

Commissariat Department.

Barrack Department.

Medical Department (including Purveyors.) Comptroller of Army Expenditure.

Military Accountant.

Royal Engineer Department.

Regimental Paymaster and Officers Commanding.

ABATING AND REFUNDING POSTAGE.

[Sidenote: Postmasters may refund.]

Postmasters in Canada are allowed to refund postage in the following cases only:--

[Sidenote: Charges for over weight.]

Letters charged as weighing more than the actual weight.

[Sidenote: On editors' notices and exchanges.]

Postage incorrectly charged on editor's notices addressed to publishers and editors, and exchange papers, which should legally pa.s.s without charge.

[Sidenote: Other cases to be referred to Postmaster General.]

All other claims for the return or abatement of postage must be specially referred to the Postmaster General for his decision, with the letter or packet on which the return is claimed.

UNDELIVERED AND DEAD LETTERS.

[Sidenote: Advertized on 1st of each month.]

All letters remaining undelivered in a post office on the first of each month, excepting drop letters and such letters as are daily called for, are advertized in a list posted at the office door for the information of the public.

[Sidenote: Advertizement in newspaper.]

If a newspaper is published in the neighbourhood the Postmaster is directed to insert this list therein, provided the proprietor will give it insertion at the authorized rate.

[Sidenote: Advertized letters to be asked for as such.]

Parties applying at an office for advertized letters should always ask for them as such.

[Sidenote: When sent to Dead Letter office.]

Letters and papers after remaining undelivered in an office for three months are sent to the Dead Letter Office, as also are all letters refused by the persons to whom they are addressed or letters addressed to persons deceased.

[Sidenote: Return to writers.]

Every letter which is opened at the Dead Letter Office and found to contain the address of the sender is sent back to him; but such as do not contain the sender's address are destroyed, excepting always those which contain money and other articles of value, which are kept for a reasonable time for the purpose of being reclaimed.