29. Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that German samples and postcards combined are being sent to British manufacturers, merchants, and traders at a postal charge of 1.40 marks, or less than 1½d. at the present rate of exchange, and that postcards alone without samples to Germany now cost 1½d.; and whether, in view of this handicap thus imposed on the British trader, the Post Office authorities will readjust such charges to put the British trader on an equality with the German in circulating samples?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Kellaway)The minimum postage rate on 1978 samples from Germany to this country is 60 pfennig for 100 grammes. In the reverse direction it is 1d. for 4 oz. (about 113 grammes). The postage on a postcard from Germany to this country is 80 pfennig, and in the reverse direction 1½d. The German charges are somewhat lower than the corresponding British charges at the current rate of exchange, but if the finance of the Post Office is to be placed on a sound basis it is impossible to regulate the charges according to the depreciated currencies of Central Europe.