§ MR. HAROLD COX (Preston)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General what is the net, as distinguished from the gross, 199 revenue obtained from mail matter despatched by the Liverpool and Hong Kong route, after allowance has been made for the cost of collecting this mail matter, of conveying it to Liverpool, and of any handling in the course of transit which is not provided for by the contractors.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThe analysis of the general cost of the Inland Postal Service in such a manner as to show the actual cost of a particular section of the service is a matter of great complexity and some uncertainty. Moreover, the deduction of that cost, if it could be ascertained, from the gross revenue, would not give a fair measure of the proper sum that should be paid for the remainder of the service, since, if postage rates are uniform, some services are necessarily less remunerative than others. Probably my hon. friend's object will best be met by stating the amount which would have to be paid at Postal Union transit rates if the service from Liverpool to Hong Kong were performed by another administration, instead of going by the Canadian Pacific service. That sum is estimated at rather under £20,000.