§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)asked the Postmaster General, If it is approximately true that the Peninsular and Oriental Company receive a subsidy at the rate of 6s 8¾d. per mile for carrying the mails to India at the average rate of 12.50 knots per hour, and the Royal Mail Company a subsidy at the rate of 5s. 4½d. per mile for carrying the mails to the West Indies at the average rate of 11.87 knots, and the Peninsular and Oriental and Orient lines together a subsidy at the rate of 3s. 8d. a-mile for carrying the mails to Australia at the average rate of 11.3 knots per hour, whilst the Union and Castle 1365 lines are only paid at the rate of 1s. 8d. a-mile in the new contract, now practically concluded, for carrying the mails to the Cape at the average rate of 12½ knots; and what is the explanation of this great discrepancy; and, whether ocean postal rates could be very much reduced if all the mail services were paid at the same rate as the Gape Mail service?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)The hon. Member's figures are approximately correct as regards the first three Services he mentions; but as regards the new Cape Mail Contract, which is stated to have been made by the Government of the Cape Colony, I have no official information. I really do not see how it would be possible to fix a standard scale of speed and price for all ocean mail contracts alike. The Post Office makes its contracts after open tender; and has no more power to prescribe universal rates for the carriage of mails to all parts of the world than merchants have to fix a universal tariff for the conveyance of goods. I think this must be obvious to the general intelligence of the House.