§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)asked the Postmaster General, Is he aware that, notwithstanding the fact that the postage from here to Delagoa Bay, East Africa, is 4d. and 5d. according to the route, yet letters posted at Delagoa Bay to England, bearing the full rate in Mozambique postage stamps, are surcharged the full rates from the Cape, through having to pass through the Cape Post Office, and are, in fact, treated as unpaid letters at Cape Town; has his attention been called to the matter by the Secretary of the Post Office, and to a letter, signed A. Blackwood, registered No. 1,782, dated 16th March, 1888; and, has he taken action to remedy the grievance complained of, considering the rapid advance being made by England in Mozambique territory through the Delagoa Bay Railway?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)The rates of postage on letters sent hence to 250 Delagoa Bay are those stated by the hon. Member. I am aware that letters posted at Delagoa Bay for England which have been transmitted through the Cape Colony, although bearing the Mozambique postage stamp, have been surcharged by the Cape Post Office, for the reason that no part of the postage represented by the foreign stamps was accounted for to the Cape Post Office for the duty imposed upon it of carrying the letters through the Colony to Cape Town and thence by packet to England. The inconvenience has arisen through the action of the Delagoa Bay Post Office in sending its letters through the Cape Colony without preconcerted arrangement. The matter has lately formed the subject of correspondence between the Imperial and Colonial Post Offices, and I have no doubt will be satisfactorily arranged.