§ MR. BOWRING (for Mr. REED)asked the Postmaster General, Whether he is prepared to reduce the Rates of Postage between the West India Colonies and this Country?
§ MR. MONSELL, in reply, said, that the cost of the West India packet service, after deducting the amount of revenue received for postage, amounted to £118,000 a-year, and the whole of that sum was paid by the Imperial Treasury. The West India Colonies contributed nothing whatever towards the expense of the subsidy. The contract with the Royal Mail Company would not be concluded until December, 1874, and until then it would be impossible to make any change in regard to postage.