§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONI beg to ask the Postmaster-General on what grounds does he charge, for printing stamps on private postcards, a higher rate than for stamps on other documents; will he explain why he does not print stamps on private postcards free of charge beyond the cost of the stamps; and I whether he is aware that no charge what ever is made in the Colonies of the Empire for printing stamps on stationers' postcards beyond the cost of the stamps.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. MCKENNA, Monmouthshire, N.)A charge for printing stamps on private postcards is made because of the additional cost that is 477 involved in the production of such stamps as compared with the cost of a corresponding quantity of adhesive postage stamps. The fee charged by the Inland Revenue Department for printing stamps of the class in question is 1s. for every 1,000 stamps and any fraction of that number. As regards the latter part of the Question, it is understood that it is only in a few Colonies that such printing is undertaken without charge; that in the majority of the Colonies it is not undertaken at all; and that in one of the principal Colonies of the Empire a charge is made for the work of 5s. per 1,000 stamps for large quantities, and of 8s. per 1,000 for smaller quantities.