§ MR. STACPOOLEsaid, he would beg to ask the Postmaster General, Whether any Contract has been made for the carriage of the English Mails to India viâ Brindisi; with whom, and for what length of time; and what is to be paid for such service; if no Contract has been made, under what arrangements are the Mails now carried viâ Brindisi; and at what cost to the Postal Department?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONThe Post Office has made no contract for the carriage of English mails to India viâ Brindisi. As I have stated in answer to several previous Questions, a mail supplementary to the ordinary Indian mail is despatched viâ Brindisi. A certain payment is made to the Italian Government which includes the transit through the Italian territory and the conveyance of the mails from Brindisi to Alexandria, at which point they fell into the ordinary Overland Mail. In order to make that payment to the Italian Government an additional charge is made of 3d. for every half-ounce letter, and of 1d. for every four-ounce newspaper.