§ SIR G. CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy)I beg to ask the Postmaster General how the penny charge for newspapers to Australia is distributed—that is, how much to the British Post Office for transit in Britain and sea passage to Australia; how much to the Continental countries for transit to Brindisi, and how much to the Australian Colonies for transit and delivery there; whether the postage from this country to India, both countries being in the Postal Union, is not dependent on the doctrine that Postal Union rates are not obligatory on services between one part of the British dominions and another; if so, why Australia is treated more favourably than India; and whether, now that he has arranged for a cheaper postage to Australia wholly by sea, he will arrange for a similar service to India?
§ * MR. RAIKESOut of the penny charged on a newspaper for Australia the Post Office pays a halfpenny for transit through France and Italy, and about 1–12th of a penny to each intermediate Colony for such newspapers as have to be conveyed from Adelaide through one Colony or more to the Colony of destination. For mere delivery nothing is credited to the Colonies. I am not sure that I rightly apprehend the hon. Member's second question; but I may say that no such doctrine as he mentions 1646 has been admitted in fixing the rates of postage to British Colonies belonging to the Postal Union. As at present advised, and in view of the large sacrifice of revenue even at the present rates, I am not prepared to recommend a cheaper postage rate to India by the long sea route.
§ SIR G. CAMPBELLI beg to give Notice that I shall take the earliest opportunity of drawing attention to the unfairness of treating Australia so much more favourably than India.