HC Deb 07 September 1909 vol 10 cc1082-3
Mr. MORTON

asked the Postmaster-General whether arrangements are being made for a penny postage between this country and Turkey; whether there is a British post office at Constantinople and also one at Shanghai, China; and whether the penny post is in force to the latter place and other places in China?

The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Sydney Buxton)

There is an agency of the British Post Office at Constantinople and also one at the Hong Kong Post Office at Shanghai. The penny postage rate is in force to the latter place, and also to all other places in China at which Hong Kong agencies are maintained. I do not contemplate any arrangement at present for the introduction of penny postage between this country and Turkey.

Mr. HENNIKER HEATON

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether there is penny postage with Shanghai, a distance of 12,500 miles, while the charge to Turkey, a distance of 1,200 miles, is 2½d.; and whether he has obtained statistics showing that at a small cost there could be established penny postage with Turkey?

Mr. BUXTON

I am aware of the obvious anomalies between the penny and the 2½d. postage. Personally, I hope that at some time or other we may have universal penny postage. In regard to the question about Turkey, it must be quite obvious to my hon. Friend that if I were to extend penny postage to Turkey other Continental nations would be entitled to ask it also, and in the present state of our finance we are unable to afford the cost, which would be about £350,000 a year.

Mr. MORTON

May I ask whether there is not a difference in the case of Turkey, where there is a British post office and a British postmaster?

Mr. BUXTON

I do not think that comes in when considering the question. It does not affect the general question.

Mr. HENNIKER HEATON

Has the right hon. Gentleman obtained statistics showing the ridiculously small cost of establishing penny postage with Turkey?

Mr. BUXTON

It is not altogether a question of the small cost of establishing penny postage between England and Turkey. If we grant it to Turkey, we must grant it to other Continental nations, and in that case it would cost £350,000 a year.