§ 89. Sir P. Macdonaldasked the Postmaster-General what is the present rate for mailing printed matter by air to East Africa; what profit this represents to the Post Office; and if he will consider reducing it, in view of the urgent need for a fuller and speedier exchange of information between the United Kingdom and the African Colonies.
§ Mr. HobsonApart from air letters, for which the rate of postage is 6d., the air postage rate to East Africa for all classes of correspondence, including printed papers, is 1s. per ½ oz. This is a zonal rate applicable to a number of destinations in the Eastern Hemisphere and it is48W not possible to deal with East Africa in isolation in assessing the profit and loss of the service. As stated in my answer on 10th November to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lewisham (Mr. Skeffington) the possibility of reducing air postage rates for newspapers and other second class mail is receiving consideration.