§ MR. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether New Zealand weekly journals weighing over ten ounces, such as The Canterbury Times and The Auckland Weekly News, were delivered in London on 14th September at the 1d. postage rate, whereas newspapers of the same weight and character published in the neighbouring Australian Colonies cannot be posted to London without a fee of 2½d.; and whether any means are available for the rectification of this difference of charges?
§ MR. A. MORLEYAt the Postal Conference hold at Brisbane in March last, at which New Zealand was represented, it was decided to adopt for newspapers addressed to the United Kingdom a rate in accordance with the Postal Union Regulations—namely, 1d. for the first four ounces and ½d. for every additional two ounces. But the New Zealand Post Office does not appear to have yet brought the new rate into operation, as newspapers from that Colony are still prepaid at the old rate of 1d. per paper. 1472 As soon as the New Zealand Post Office adopts the new rate, the difference of charges referred to in the second paragraph of the question will disappear. As the hon. Member probably knows, I have in practice no power to alter the rates of postage from the Colonies to other places.