The following modifications have been introduced in the Regulations for the transmission
of Samples and Patterns of Merchandize between Canada and the United
Kingdom.
1st. It has hitherto formed part of the Imperial Post Office Regulations that “Samples
or Patterns must not be of intrinsic value” but in consequence of the difficulty
that has been experienced in determining what is, and what is not, a Pattern
or Sample of Merchandize of intrinsic value, this prohibition has been removed.
The modification is a verbal one, and will not alter nor enlarge in any way, the character
of the transmissions permitted to pass by Pattern Post.
The special prohibition as to intrinsic value has, it is understood, been withdrawn,
not because the question of value will not still influence a decision as to whether an article
offered for transmission by Pattern Post is a genuine commercial Sample (or Pattern) or
not, but because as a general proviso it could not well be enforced; inasmuch as every
article whether properly a Pattern or Sample or not, has necessarily more or less of an
intrinsic value, and might be held to be amenable to a strict construction of this prohibitory
clause in the Regulation.
2nd. Samples of Seeds, Drugs, and similar articles intended for delivery within the
United Kingdom, are now allowed to be sent in bags entirely closed, provided
such bags be transparent, so that the Officers of the Post Office may be able to
satisfy themselves of the contents.
3rd. The rule which prohibited the transmission through the Post, as Patterns, of
articles of cutlery, &c., has been rescinded; and scissors, knives, razors, forks,
steel pens, nails, keys, watch machinery, metal tubing, pieces of metal or ore
and such like articles, are now allowed to be forwarded by the Post as Samples,
provided they be packed and guarded in so secure a manner as to afford complete
protection to the contents of the Mail Bags, and to the persons of the Officers of
the Post Office. Such articles, however, must be so packed that they may be
easily examined; and it is made a rule that any packet containing such articles
which may be found to be insufficiently guarded, shall not be forwarded through
the Post.
4th. No packet of Patterns or Samples must exceed 24 oz. in weight.
A Packet of Patterns or Samples sent to France, must not exceed 18 inches in
length, width or depth; a packet to any other place abroad must not exceed 24 inches in
length or 12 inches in breadth or depth.
A Packet of Patterns or Samples sent to Germany or Belgium must not exceed 8
ounces in weight.
None of the articles named in Rule 3, may be sent as Patterns or Samples to any place
abroad, except Germany, Belgium, and the British Colonies, and not to those places when
addressed “viâ France.”
Bags entirely closed even though they may be transparent, must not be used for the
transmission of seeds to foreign parts.
W. P. HOWLAND,
Postmaster General.
Post Office Department,
Ottawa, February, 1866.
Transcriber’s Note: The following appeared on an errata slip pasted into the volume. The
errata have been corrected.
