§ Mr. PENNYasked the Postmaster-General whether in view of the general desire for the re-introduction, of penny postage, he will consider the advisability of making a charge upon letters re-addressed and re-posted owing to the addressee being at another postal address, and devote the revenue so obtained to any loss of revenue that may be sustained by reducing the existing rate of postage; and whether he has any record as to how many letters were re-addressed and re-posted in the last fiscal year?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe question has been considered on more than one occasion, but it has been found that the cost of collecting fresh postage upon re-addressed letters would approximate to, if it did not exceed, the extra amount obtained. The number of letters re-directed by the Post Office or the public during the last financial year is estimated at 44 millions.