§ 22. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that air-letters for the Dutch East Indies prepaid at the proper rate to enable them to be transmitted by the Dutch Air Service are often held back for several days in order that they may be sent by the Imperial Air Service; and whether he will inform the House for what reason airmail letters, where speed in delivery is the principal object, are not sent by the first out-going air-mail unless a special direction is placed on the envelope requesting that they should be sent via Holland?
§ Sir K. WOODAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his question on the same subject on 18th March. As regards the second part, air letters for the Dutch East Indies are forwarded by the Imperial air route, unless specially marked and prepaid for transmission by the Dutch air service, in accordance with the general policy of the Government to utilise the Imperial air services so far as is reasonable and practicable.
§ Sir W. DAVISONDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that this involves more than three days' delay and surely a letter, in the case of which speed is the essence of the contract, should be forwarded by the first out-going air-mail, especially as the fee for the Dutch air-mail has been paid?
§ Sir K. WOODIn that case, all that the person who desires that the letter should be forwarded in that way has to do is to mark the letter accordingly.