§ MR. HAROLD COX (Preston)To ask the Postmaster-General whether letters from Shanghai to this country, or vice versa, are ever sent via the Trans-Siberian Railway; if so, what is the time occupied upon the journey as compared with the time taken by other routes; and what is the cost of conveyance per pound of mail matter as compared with other routes.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) Letters are sent from the British Postal Agency at Shanghai to this country, and vice versa, by the Trans-Siberian Railway when marked by the senders for trans mission by that route. The approximate time of transit from London to Shanghai by the different routes available for the conveyance of mails is as follows—
| Via Siberia | 20 days. |
| Via Vancouver | 27 or 28 days according to the season. |
| Via Suez | 30–35 days. |
| Via the United-States of America. | 42–45 days. |
| States of America. |
§ The cost per pound of the conveyance of letters sent from this country to Shanghai via Siberia is estimated at 6s. 8d. For letters sent via Suez by French Packet the cost is estimated at 4s. 3d., and in the case of German Packets at 4s. 10d. per pound. I am not in a position to give similar information in regard to letters sent via Vancouver or by British. Packet via Suez, as both the Packet Companies concerned receive a round subsidy covering the whole of the services performed by them.