§ MR. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he will submit the Postal Convention of 1891 to the consideration of the Law Officers of the Crown, with a 58 view to determining whether there is anything in its terms or provisions that would prohibit or prevent the adoption of a penny postage rate between the British Isles and the Australian Colonies?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI do not think it is necessary to submit the Postal Union Convention of 1891 to the Law Officers of the Crown with the object named in the question. As I explained in the Debate on the 28th April, and as was stated by the Prime Minister on the same occasion, the main obstacle to the adoption of Imperial penny postage is to be found outside the Convention itself—in the covenant entered into by all the members of the Union with the Australasian Colonies as to the conditions on which the latter should enter the Union.
MR. LAWSONMay I ask if it is true that Germany is at present arranging a postage at about 1½d. to her Colonies?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI have no information as to that.