§ 31. Mr. PETOasked the Postmaster-General whether, prior to the outbreak of war, any foreign-owned steamers were permitted to take mails on board or to land mails off the Isle of Wight without entering the Southampton port authority's area; and, if so, whether there is any Parliamentary authority for the carriage of these mails by foreign steamers and for the arrangement by which they escaped a fair share of port, lighting, and other dues?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. J. A. Pease)The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but I understand the practice was rarely resorted to until 1913. In the eighteen 412 months prior to the War the three German lines were not at any time regularly used without entering the port of Southampton for the carriage of mails. The relations of the postal administration of this country in regard to the conveyance of mails by foreign-owned steamers under contract with foreign administrations are governed by the provisions of the Postal Union Convention to which this country is a party. Questions concerning the payment of port, lighting, and other dues are not dealt with by the Post Office.