§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)To ask the Postmaster-General if the British Post Office makes any fixed contribution in respect of New Zealand and Australian mails carried between San Francisco and Auckland and Sydney by the Oceanic Steamship Company (Spreckel's line), or if the carriage is simply paid on poundage rates; if he is aware whether the system is also pursued by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand; and if it would be more economical, more expeditious, and more advantageous to send these mails viâ Vancouver instead of viâ San Francisco.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) Payment for the conveyance of British mails from San Francisco to Auckland and Sydney is made by the British Post Office to the United States Post Office at the usual Postal Union transit rates. I understand that, under the recently-terminated contract between the Oceanic Steamship Company and the New Zealand Post Office, payment was made to the company for mails conveyed from Auckland to San Francisco at poundage rates, but subject to a fixed minimum and maximum in each year. I have reason to believe that the Australian Post Office also pays the company at poundage rates. The Answer to the last part of the hon. Member's Question is in the negative.