§ MR. SUMMERS (Huddersfield)I beg to ask the Postmaster General what is the estimated loss to the Revenue by the reduction of the postage rates to Australia and to India from 6d. and 5d. to 2½d. in each case; what is the estimated additional loss to the Revenue if the postage rates to Australia and to India were reduced from 2½d. to 1d.; and what is the further estimated loss if the postage rates to all the colonies and to India were reduced to 1d.?
§ *THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) University of CambridgeThe additional loss over and above that now incurred which will result from reducing the postages on letters sent from this country to India and Australia to 2½d. is estimated at £88,400 a year. A further loss of £42,000 a year would be the result of making the rate 1d. instead of 2½d. And a still further loss of £50,000 would follow a reduction of postage rates to all the colonies and India to 1d. The hon. Member will see that the total of these reductions by bringing the rate down to 1d. generally would come to £180,400.