§ MR. SUMMERS (Huddersfield)I beg to ask the Postmaster General what would be the estimated additional loss to the Revenue of the reduction of the postage rates to India and the British Colonies from 5d. and 6d. to 1d. instead of 2½d., as proposed by him?
§ * THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) University of CambridgeThe loss to the Imperial Revenue by reducing the postage of letters to India and the Colonies to 1d. instead of 2½., as proposed, is estimated at £180,000 a year; and that loss, I may add, would be in addition to the loss which is at present sustained by the expenditure on Ocean Mail Services being very largely in excess of the postage rates charged to the public.
* MR. CHILLERS (Edinburgh, S.)Does the right hon. Gentleman include in that £180,000 a year the loss on carrying-letters to Canada?
§ * MR. RAIKESYes: the Estimate covers the whole of the colonies.
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRE (Bradford, Central)Does the right hon. Gentleman take into account any possible extension of the number of letters?
§ * MR. RAIKESI cannot answer that question.
* MR. GUILDERSCan the right hon. Gentleman give a Return showing how the redaction to 1d. would affect the different colonies and dependencies?
§ * MR. RAIKESAll I can say is that the sum I have given would cover the estimated loss, including all the colonies.
§ MR. SUMMERSIs the £180,000 in addition to the loss now sustained in connection with the Postal Service?
§ * MR. RAIKESIt is estimated that the present loss upon the Colonial Postal Service amounts to £254,000 a year, or rather more than £250,000, and the reduction to 1d. would increase that loss by £180,000 a year more.