§ 130. Mr. STANTONasked the Undersecretary for War if his attention has been called to the fact that soldiers' parcels are charged for at the rate of 1s. 4d. per 7 lbs. weight; that it was formerly 1s. 4d. for 14 lbs.; and whether, in view of the hardship inflicted by this increase of charge upon the poor relatives of our soldiers at the front, he will see that this is altered?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Illingworth)The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The rates on parcels for the British Armies in France are 1s. up to 3 lbs. and 1s. 4d. from 3 lbs. to 7 lbs. These rates have been unaltered since the beginning of the War. The rates for troops serving in more distant theatres of war are the same for parcels up to 3 lbs., but are rather higher for parcels between 3 lbs. and 7 lbs. Parcels exceeding 7 lbs. cannot be sent by parcel post.