§ 78. Captain HAROLD BALFOURasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that Imperial Airways, Limited, have recently issued special notepaper and envelopes for use on the South African air mail route weighing exactly half an ounce, as compared to a set of paper and envelope issued by the French Aeropostale Company weighing only one-sixth of an ounce; and whether he will consider recognising a minimum weight per letter of less than half an ounce in order that fuel may not be burnt for the purpose of carrying an unnecessary amount of paper to Africa per bag of air mail carried and that a lesser sum may become due to the company in respect of weight of letters carried for the same given number posted?
§ Sir K. WOODAccording to my information, Imperial Airways issued a special envelope in connection with the first direct flight to South Africa, but no special notepaper was issued. I am aware that the Aeropostale Company issues notepaper and envelopes weighing only one-sixth of an ounce in order to provide a very low minimum weight for air letters for South America, but I would point out that the charges for transport on this service are nearly 10 times greater than the charges on the Indian air service and five times the charges on the South African air service. I would point out to my hon. Friend that any decrease in the gross weight of the mails resulting from a reduction of the present half-ounce minimum for air letters might well lead to an increase in the rates charged for the conveyance of the mail. In that case it would be necessary to raise the air fee.
§ Captain BALFOURCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the present arrangements between the Post Office and Imperial Airways, Limited, do not operate 260 so that it pays Imperial Airways to make their letters weigh as much as possible; and, further, according to his reply, would not the point arise that the less the mail weighed the more would be carried?