§ SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he can state what proportion of the mails between the United Kingdom and China and Japan are sent via Canada and via Suez respectively; and what have been the average periods of transit by the two routes during the last three months for the mails to Japan, Shanghai and Hong Kong respectively?
§ Mr. RITCHIE (for Mr. HANBURY)Mails are exchanged between the United kingdom and China and Japan, not only via Canada and via Suez, but also via the United States. The proportion of 1469 the mails sent by each route is as follows:—
The average periods of transit from London to Hong Kong and Shanghai during the three months ended the 30th of April last were:—
ROUTE. TO AND FROM CHINA. TO AND FROM JAPAN. Via Canada .3 p.c. 34.7 p.c. Via Suez (by British, French and German packets) 99.5 " 32.8 " Via the United States) .2 " 32.5 " The Post Office has no records of the time of arrival in Japan of mails sent to that country via Suez. They are landed at Hong Kong and are forwarded thence as opportunities offer In the case of mails for Japan sent by way of Canada the average period of transit from London to Yokohama during the same three months was 31d. 9h. 19m.
VIA SUEZ. VIA CANADA. D. H. M. D. H. M. To Hong hong 28 12 21 39 13 6 " Shanghai 33 6 44 36 12 27