§ MR. BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)asked the Postmaster General, Whether he will inform the House why it is that an extra charge, amounting to more than 30 per cent, is made on parcels for places in South Africa other than Capetown; while the rate for all places in other Colonies, except Canada, is a uniform one; and, whether he will inform the House as to the leading conditions as to rates in the contracts for the conveyance of parcels by Parcels Post to South Africa?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (SIR HENRY HOLLAND) (Hampstead)(who replied) said: The Cape Town Post Office decided after careful consideration that, while willing that the postage for parcels for Cape Town itself should be at the rate of 1s. a-pound, circumstances would not admit of their agreeing to a lower rate than 1s. 4d. a-pound in respect of parcels for all places other than Cape Town. In view of the advantage of securing a lower rate for the very large number of parcels for Cape Town, it was considered that a departure from the ordinary course of fixing a uniform rate for the whole Colony was justified. The contract for the sea conveyance forparcels was made by the Cape Town Post Office, and the leading conditions of it cannot be stated.