§ 14. Lord APSLEYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Government of Palestine to increase the letter postage from Palestine to Great Britain from seven mils per 20 grammes to 13 mils per 20 grammes; whether such proposal has been approved by him; whether he will inform the House the reason thereof; and what increased revenue is estimated to accrue to the Palestine Government as a result of such increase?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. The increase, which I hope will be only temporary was recommended by the Palestine Government as necessary, in the present financial circumstances of the country, as a revenue producing measure. The estimated additional revenue is about £2,000 per annum. I am glad to be able to add that my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General has agreed to maintain for the present the Imperial rate of postage on letters from this country to Palestine.
§ Lord APSLEYIs my right hon. Friend aware that Canada and New Zealand, and now Trinidad, have reverted to penny postage, and will not 762 the Colonial Office assist in getting the postal authorities to secure the same standard of efficiency?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe Post Office in Palestine only reverted to what the practice was. Quite recently a concession was made and unfortunately it has proved too expensive. Palestine never gave preferential postage rates to the whole Empire but only to Great Britain. This charge has been put on by the British Administration in Palestine simply for Revenue purposes.
§ Lord APSLEYDoes that apply to Trans-Jordania?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI must have notice of that question. I have here only the facts about Palestine.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the British Administration of Palestine has not put on the additional charge in order to differentiate Palestine from the rest of the Empire?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENo, I am sure of that.