§ Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Postmaster-General whether he has been able to give consideration to the proposals made for an especially low rate of postage for the conveyance of home-grown foods, in order to give a stimulus to food production in country districts and to ensure for town workers an increased supply of wholesome foods at reasonable prices?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI have several times considered similar proposals. The present rate of postage on parcels is estimated to be insufficient to cover the cost of dealing with a parcel in the post, and there is already a loss on the parcel rate as a whole. I am afraid that, other considerations apart, I could not entertain any suggestion of granting a special rate for parcels of homegrown food, though I fully sympathise with the object in view. A preferential rate of this kind would immediately elicit demands for similar treatment from other industries to which cheap transport is of no less importance, and I know of no ground or> which equality of treatment could be refused.