§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)asked the Postmaster General whether he was aware that a letter posted in France for New Caledonia was only charged 25 centimes, or 2½d., and from England to New Caledonia the charge was 4d. per letter, whereas a 824 letter to Australia by the same route, 1,000 miles nearer England, was charged 6d.; whether he was aware the ocean postage from Germany to Australia was 20 pfennings, or less than 2½d. per letter and from Germany to the savage island of New Guinea only the same charge, whereas the charge from England to Australia by the all-sea route was 4d. per letter; and, whether he intended to make a further reduction in the postage to Australia.
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) Cambridge University, The hon. Member seems to have forgotten that I answered in the affirmative an identical question raised by him in March, 1887. But I may qualify my previous answer by stating what the hon. Member probably knows, that a letter may now be sent to Australia by long sea route for a postage of 4d.