Mr. ALLENasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that all Great Britain's chief Continental competitors are able to send an air-mail letter to South America for 1s. 6d., their initial weight being five grammes, whereas the minimum cost from this country is 4s., the initial weight being half an ounce; whether he has considered the representation of the London Chamber of Commerce that British firms are sending letters to France to be posted there in order to take advantage of the Continental low initial rate; and what, if any, cost would be incurred by the British Post Office in instituting a ¼-ounce initial weight for air mail from this country?
§ Mr. VIANTI am aware of the fact that it is possible to send letters by air from certain European countries to South America at a lower minimum charge than it is from this country, but only the lightest letters come within the