§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, Camlachie)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether any representations have been made by either Colonial or Indian Governments, expressing a desire for a reduction of the postal charges to those Colonies; whether he is aware if it is a fact that the postal services of the colonies now result in heavy losses to them; and, whether it is competent for the Government to reduce the ocean postal charge to one penny per letter without retiring from the Postal Union, and thus destroying existing postal arrangements with other countries?
§ * THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) University of CambridgeIn answer to the hon. Member I may say that no representations have been made to me, either by Colonial or Indian Governments, expressing a desire for a reduction of the postal charges to the Colonics or to India. I am informed that the postal services of the Australian Colonies now result in heavy losses to them, amounting last year to not less than £380,000, and in the case of Canada I see from a recent Report of the Dominion Postmaster General that there is a loss on postal services of over 700,000 dollars, or more than £150,000 a year. Although the question has not yet been definitely decided there is great reason to doubt if it would be competent for this country to reduce its ocean postal charge to its colonies to one penny per letter without withdrawing from the Postal Union and thus destroying all the existing postal arrangements with other civilised countries.