MR. MELLOR (Yorks, W.R., Sowerby)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that letters for Rhodesia bearing a 2½d. stamp are charged 4d. at Bulawayo, while letters from Bulawayo to London are charged 6d.; and whether Rhodesia is in the Postal Union, and, if not, whether there is any and what agreement with the Chartered Company as to the rates of postage?
§ MR. HANBURYThe postage prepayable on letters from this country to Rhodesia is 2½d. the ½ oz., and the Postmaster General is not aware that a charge is made on the delivery in Rhodesia of letters from this country fully prepaid by means of postage stamps; indeed, a few years ago Her Majesty's Government agreed to pay extra high rates for the transit of correspondence for Rhodesia in order to obviate the necessity for such charge. The matter, however, shall be inquired into. The postage on letters from Bulawayo to London is 6d. per ½oz. Rhodesia is not at present in the 1058 Postal Union, and the Chartered Company is at liberty to fix the postage to be charged on correspondence from that territory. There is no direct agreement between Her Majesty's Postmaster General and the Chartered Company, but the exchange of mails has been carried on under arrangements made by the Postmaster General of the Cape of Good Hope.