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POSTAL NOTES, MONEY ORDERS, BANK CHEQUES. 311
of a new wmmission equal to the original poundago, and a
like further commission for every subsequent period of three
months, or part of such period. Payment may under the next
clause be refused in case a note bears signs of tampering or
fraud. Then follows the important provision, that ‘‘E postmaster
may rehse or delay the payment of a postal order, but
shall immediately report such delny or refusal, with his reasons
for it, tu the Postmaster-General.” As, however, this report
seems to be intended for the private satisfaction of tho Department,
and there is no clause requiring the postmaster or tho
Postmaster-General to give reasons to tho holder of the note,
this regulation makes the notes convertible into coiu at th
will and convenieme of the Department. There is no act of
bankruptcy nor brcach of engagement in refusing payment.
The local postmaster has simply to give as his reason for SUBpending
payment, that he has no funds, and tho Department
will doubtless regard his reason as a very good one.
Perhaps the most extraordinary clause of tho regulations is
No. 16, which provides that, if a note be once paid by any
officer of the Post Office, both the Postmaster-General and all
his officers ~lhall be discharged from all further liability in
respect of that order, ‘(notwithstanding any forgery, fraud,
mistake, or loss which may have been committed, or havo
occurred, in reference to such order, or to the procuring
thereof, or to obtaining the payment thereof, and notwithstanding
my disregard of these regulations, and notwithstanding
anything whatsoever.” Thus is Professor
Fawcett, by his own mere fiat-for this clause occurs only in
the regulations which purport to be the act of tho Poetmaster-
General-made to shelve the whole common and StatRb3 law of
the realm in his own favour. Even his own regulations, laid
down in the same fiat, are not to be binding on this potentate,
who is to be free from dl question (‘notwithstanding anything
whatsoever.” These words are indeed a stroke of departmental
genius. Red tape is potent for binding the oabside
public; but within the Department no bonds of or eqnity
are to be Moogniaed in caae of error, “notwithstanding anything
whatsaever.”