§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Postmaster-General what is the average surcharge on postal matter to and from India by air; what percentage of profit is yielded to the Post Office here and in India; and whether he can give any reason for the fact that the weight carried is smaller homewards than outwards?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe surcharge for letters conveyed by air to Karachi is 5d. per ½ oz., and for letters conveyed to Karachi and onwards by the connecting Karachi-Delhi Air Service 7d. per ½ oz. The corresponding surcharges in the reverse direction are understood to be six annas and eight annas per ½ oz. respectively. The surcharges collected in this country are fixed in the closest possible relation to the actual costs of the service and the margin of profit is very narrow. I have no information regarding the financial effect of the surcharges fixed by the Indian Post Office for the service in the reverse direction. The fact that the average weekly air traffic outwards is greater than that inwards is in accordance with the position in the case of the traffic conveyed by ordinary services to and from India.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Postmaster-General what weight of mail 2088W is now carried outwards and homewards by air to and from India; and whether the quantity of postal matter is, increasing or decreasing?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHSince the beginning of this year, the average weekly weight of air mail carried to India has been about 550 lbs., and the corresponding weight from India about 440 lbs. Apart from a very marked increase in both directions during the Christmas period, it cannot be said that there has recently been any definite tendency for the traffic to rise or fall.