§ Mr. ANDERSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will say how many protests he has received in regard to the proposed abolition of the halfpenny post; whether he is aware that legitimate interests will be severely and adversely affected by the change; and whether he will consider if the financial or other advantage to the nation will be of such a character as to compensate for the hardship and inconvenience that will be caused?
§ Sir W. BYLESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he contemplates any modification in the new and increased postal rates mentioned in his Budget speech, and especially in regard to the halfpenny post?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI would refer my hon. Friends to the statement which I made on the same subject on the 12th instant.
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§ Sir W. BYLESasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether the postal rate for 2 ozs. of printed matter sent from Holland to this country is a ½d.; whether there is any power to alter that rate if the corresponding rate in Great Britain is raised to a 1d.; and (2) whether he has any evidence that commercial travellers of Dutch firms are already in this country, in anticipation of increased postal rates here, seeking printing orders which have been long and regularly placed in England?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe postage rate on printed papers and commercial papers sent from Holland to this country is the usual international rate of 5 centimes for every 50 grammes, and there is no power to alter that rate (which is fixed by the principal Convention of the Postal Union) to correspond with any change in the inland rate in Great Britain for similar matter. I have no such evidence as that suggested.