§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Postmaster General if he can state the total amount charged by the French and Italian Governments for the conveyance of 59,000lbs. weight of letters and 952,000lbs. weight of newspapers and other articles sent overland from this country to Australia viâ Brindisi, and for 52,000lbs. of letters and 517,000lbs. weight of newspapers and other articles received from Australia viâ Brindisi per special trains across Italy and France; and the total charge which would be made by France and Italy for each of these respective mails if they were forwarded by ordinary express trains to and from Naples?
§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLThe cost of transit at the special train rates would be as follows:—59,000lb. letters, 952,000lb. other articles, £22,400; 52,000lb. letters, 517,000lb. other articles, £15,972; and at ordinary union transit rates viâ Naples, £59,000lb. letters, 952,000lb. other articles, £12,806; 52,000lb. letters, 517,000lb. other articles, £8,388.