§ LORD ALFRED CHURCHILLsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he would object to postpone the execution of the recent increase in the rate of postage to Australia until the colonies shall have been communicated with as to their desire to have a bi-monthly mail in conjunction with the increase of the postage rate?
MR. PEEL,in reply, said, in the recommendation made last year by the Post Office to the Treasury to increase the rate of postage on letters sent from this country to Australia, the object in view was of a double character — partly to reduce the amount annually granted by Parliament to meet the excess in the cost of the service over the receipts for postage, and partly to provide the means of defraying the expenses of establishing a second monthly communication with Australia. There was a very general desire to establish a second monthly communication with Australia; at the same time there was a very strong objection on the part of the Government to ask that House to provide additional subsidies for the expenses of the Australian service. The Government did not proceed with their plan for establishing a fortnightly communication with Australia in consequence of having understood that it was intended to establish a communication with Australia by way of Panama independently of the Home Government. It appeared, however, that that was no longer the case, and therefore they were free to revert to the old plan. Under those circumstances he thought the course indicated by the question was a very reasonable one for the Government to pursue. The Government reserved the right of regulating the rate of postage if they thought proper; but, at the same time, they were desirous of taking part in any measure for increasing the frequency of communication with Australia. It was quite possible that the Australians, though they might object to an increased postage, might be willing to acquiesce in that increase provided it were accompanied with additional communication with this country. Under these circumstances the Government was willing to postpone the increase in the postage until time had been given to communicate with Australia.
§ LORD ALFRED CHURCHILLsaid, under these circumstances he would not proceed with his Motion on the subject.