§ 27. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Postmaster-General why letters posted to Batavia between Saturday afternoon and Tuesday evening in London are held till the following Saturday morning in order to go by the Imperial Air Service and are not forwarded by the Dutch airmail due to leave London on Wednesday mornings, especially having regard to the fact that no additional charge would fall on the Exchequer, as the Dutch air-mail is already subsidised in this respect by the British Government?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir Kingsley Wood)Air letters for the Dutch East Indies prepaid at the advertised rates are sent only by the Imperial Services which start every Saturday; but any air letter specially marked for transmission by the Dutch Air Service and prepaid at the higher postage rate rendered necessary by the higher transport charges payable is sent by that service.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs my right hon. Friend aware that speed is of the essence of the matter in air communication; and do I understand that the stamping of a letter for conveyance by Imperial Airways would not cover transmission by the Dutch Air Service?
§ Sir K. WOODMy answer gives that information.