§ MR. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, whether he can specify the Colonies that have not yet signified their assent to the Imperial penny postal system; whether there is any immediate prospect of their concurrence; and whether any steps are in progress or in contemplation with a view to minimising the anomalies and inconveniences arising from differential postal rates to contiguous portions of the Empire?
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBUKY,) PrestonThe principal British Colonies which have not yet signified their assent to the Penny Postage Scheme are the Australian Colonies and New Zealand, Cape Colony, Jamaica, Malta, and Mauritius. I cannot say whether there is any immediate prospect of their concurrence, but there is reason to hope that the Government of Malta will shortly join. From the action taken by the representatives of the Cape Colony at the Postal Conference held in London last summer, the Postmaster-General expected that the Cape would be among the first of the Colonies to adopt the penny postage scheme. The whole of the British Colonies and Possessions have been invited to adhere to this scheme.