§ MR. H. BEAUMONT (Sussex, Eastbourne)To ask the Postmaster-General how the Post Office authorities justify the passing of 15-gram letters with their published regulations to the effect that the postage to be prepaid on letters for all foreign countries and for British Possessions not mentioned in the list appearing in the Post Office Guide is 2½d. per half-ounce.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The tolerance extended to letters exceeding half an ounce, but not exceeding 15 grammes, is not authorised by the published regulations, which are strictly in accordance with the statutory authority; but the concession is of long standing, and for that reason, as I have already announced in this House, I do not propose to withdraw it. When the new rates agreed upon by the Postal Congress at Rome come into force next year, the Question will disappear; for the one ounce, which will then come into force here as the unit of weight, will exceed the 20 grammes, which will be the unit of weight in countries having the metric system.