Our Herbert
I presume the question is primarily one of uniform and convenient postal arrangements and only secondarily
one of finance
The
Chap
community at large is more largely interested in cheap postage and if the mother country is prepared to bear half the cost which under present postal arrangements would be incurred in consequence of any colony's entering the postal Union I do not see why the Colony
should not bear
the other half. At the same time
I do not think it would be unreasonable that the cost should if possible be recovered
by a tax upon the letter writing
section of the community as has been proposed to the Governor of the Leeward Islands.
Copy to 10 Dec 8 day 762
98
In the meantime I infer
we should telegraph to H Governor Maxwell. the Colony would be called upon to bear would be the half of
£6300? No 18/7
It
Yes.
I have decided that
it is expedient to lower the postage
in these cases,
and
in the case of Hong Kong I hardly think it necessary, & propose any
will
Special taxation to meet a
Postal Union charge
of £3150 a year
Telegraph "to Hong Kong
Sent 18 Jun/1573 Joy
Ackgly Telegramd
will be £3150
despatch of mail.
4
This explains sending correspondence
above
Ref #ht pass