§ 38. Mr. HUTCHISONasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the regularity with which air mail services have operated during recent months, he will now consider the advisability of treating such mails as a normal facility provided by the Post Office and make arrangements for abolishing the complicated and high charges now imposed?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir Ernest Bennett)It is true that during the summer months the air mail services have operated with a high degree of regularity; but I fear that, until the very wide difference between the cost of air transport and of surface transport has been substantially reduced, it will not be practicable to forward mails by air without the payment of additional charges.
§ 39. Mr. LEWISasked the Postmaster-General the percentage by which the fees charged to the public for the use of the air mails exceed the charges made by the owners of the aeroplanes for carrying these mails?
§ Sir E. BENNETTThe rates of postage on air letters are so fixed as to cover as nearly as possible the cost of transport and of handling and similar operations in this country. It is impracticable to state the relation of the postage charge to the payments for air conveyance in the form of percentages, as they would vary according to the destination and weight of the letter and, in many of the services, according to fluctuations in the exchange.
§ Mr. LEWISIs the hon. Gentleman prepared to state that, if the charges were lowered, the result would be a loss to the Post Office?
§ Sir E. BENNETTYes, Sir; I am prepared to make that statement.