§ MR. R. POWER (Waterford)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, "Whether he will lay upon the Table the Correspondence which contains the offer of Messrs. De la Rue, in connection with their proposal for an extension of their contract, leading up to a reduction in the price of postcards, in order that the House may be in a position to form an opinion as to whether there are exceptional reasons for accepting that offer which may outweigh the advantages likely to arise from competition and from short contracts; whether there is any truth in the rumour that the reduced prices offered by Messrs. De la Rue practically correspond with those which Mr. Purcell, the Controller of Stamps, indicated in his evidence before the Select Committee on Revenue Estimates would be fair and reasonable; whether it is a fact that, at the present moment, post cards are being turned out at Somerset House which, as retailed by stationers at 6½d and 7d. per dozen, compete with practically similar postcards for which, owing to the Inland Revenue contract, the Postmaster General is compelled to charge as much as 8d. per dozen; and, whether he will consider the advisability of putting an end to this arrangement?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)My answer to the hon. Member's first Question is in the 152 affirmative. With regard to his second Question, I am Dot aware whether the reduced prices of Messrs. De la Rue correspond with those indicated by Mr. Purcell. I have not compared the two, nor would it be easy to do so, as Mr. Purcell's calculations were based on the cost of existing materials; whereas Messrs. De la Rue's offer includes a change in the material of the stout postcard. The answer to the third Question is in the affirmative. As to the fourth, I have not yet had time to confer with the Postmaster General on the subject.