THE PASSAGE OF OBJECTIONABLE MATTER THROUGH THE POST.
[To THE EDITOIt OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I trust that the publioity which you have given to this matter will lead to legislation adequate to meet the evil, which has already attained alarming proportions in at least one direction. Advantage is taken of announcements of births to deluge the parents with all manner of nauseous and noxious literature, and advertisements of wares of whioh self-respecting people want to hear as little as possible. I fear that the Post Office cannot be expected to cope with the evil, and that it is necessary to reach the sources. The Indecent Advertisements Act has dealt effectively with one aspect of the problem.
and there seems to be no reason why its scope should not be extended to render it illegal to send by post any printed or written matter of an indecent nature. The definition of such could be made very wide without inflicting injury on any legitimate enterprise. The posting abroad of objectionable matter for delivery in this country cannot be so easily checked, but the Postmaster-General has already ample powers in the ease of suspected matter, and the public would not com- plain of a more exhaustive inspection of circulars, &c., posted
Previous page
