R 5
The route. In 1913 the number was 74,323 and then war came. numbers fell off and last year only 1,023 letters were sent by this route. In this connection I might mention that a mail was despatched from London viâ Siberia dated from 14th January to 18th February, 1918. It is probable that this mail was not despatched at one time but contained several different despatches. A request was enclosed from the London Office, as often happens, that the date of receipt might be reported as soon as possible. This mail was received here on the 18th November via New York, having taken no less than 308 days to reach the Colony.
There was a great increase in the parcel business during the year, and for the first time the number of parcels sent to England exceeded the number received. In ordinary years we receive many more parcels from England than we send. The reason is obvious, for most Europeans here have purchases to make at home, while the parcels sent home are, generally speaking, gifts. High exchange always means an increase of parcels from home. Persons who have got accustomed to regard a pound sterling as ten dollars send home for an article which costs a pound when they can get it for five dollars odd. Therefore the high exchange in spite of submarine trouble kept the inward parcel business from gold countries in a healthy condition.
In spite of high exchange the number of parcels despatched to England was greater than ever before. This in no way weakens the fact that high exchange promotes inward and discourages outward parcels. It was entirely due to war conditions. During the year 6,622 parcels of tea and sugar weighing 32,668 lbs. or in other words about 14 tons were sent as gifts by people in this Colony to their friends at home. The vast bulk of these parcels were sent through Messrs. Lane, Crawford & Co., and I should like to place on record my appreciation of the loyal manner in which they have in all cases abided by my decision with regard to regulations, which were at times hard to understand.
In consequence of the offensive by the Germans in March the despatch of parcels via Canada had to be discontinued, as all available space was required for military purposes. This route, which was only started in 1917, had proved very popular, but it ceased to exist as from the 10th May, and it has not been possible to renew this service.
On the 30th May arrangements were made with Messrs. Butterfield & Swire for a parcel service by steamships of Messrs. A. Holt's Company. This service has afforded people in this Colony a regular means of sending parcels home at pre-war rates. I wish to thank Messrs. Butterfield & Swire for the extreme promptitude with which they placed this service at the disposal of the Colonial Posts.
The Shanghai-Bombay section of the P. & O. Contract Mail Service was suspended throughout the year.
R 5
The
route. In 1913 the number was 74,323 and then war came. numbers fell off and last year only 1,023 letters were sent by this route. In this connection I might mention that a mail was des- patched from London viâ Siberia `dated from 14th January to 18th February, 1918. It is probable that this mail was not despatched at one time but contained several different despatches. A request was enclosed from the London Office, as often happens, that the date of receipt might be reported as soon as possible. This mail was received here on the 18th November via New York, having taken no less than 308 days to reach the Colony.
There was a great increase in the parcel business during the year, and for the first time the number of parcels sent to England exceeded the number received. In ordinary years we receive many more parcels from England than we send. The reason is obvious, for most Europeans here have purchases to make at home, while the parcels sent home are, generally speaking, gifts. High exchange always means an increase of parcels from home. Persons who have got accustomed to regard a pound sterling as ten dollars send home for an article which costs a pound when they can get it for five dollars odd. Therefore the high exchange in spite of submarine trouble kept the inward parcel business from gold countries in a healthy condition.
In spite of high exchange the number of parcels despatched to England was greater than ever before. This in no way weakens the fact that high exchange promotes inward and discourages out- ward parcels. It was entirely due to war conditions. During the year 6,622 parcels of tea and sugar weighing 32,668 lbs. or in other words about 14 tons were sent as gifts by people in this Colony to their friends at home. The vast bulk of these parcels were sent through Messrs. Lane, Crawford & Co., and I should like to place on record my appreciation of the loyal manner in which they have in all cases abided by my decision with regard to regula- tions, which were at times hard to understand.
In consequence of the offensive by the Germans in March the despatch of parcels via Canada had to be discontinued, as all available space was required for military purposes. This route, which was only started in 1917, had proved very popular, but it ceased to exist as from the 10th May, and it has not been possible to renew this service.
On the 30th May arrangements were made with Messrs. Butterfield & Swire for a parcel service by steamships of Messrs. A. Holt's Company. This service has afforded people in this Colony a regular means of sending parcels home at pre-war rates. I wish to thank Messrs. Butterfield & Swire for the extreme promptitude with which they placed this service at the disposal of the Colonial Posts.
The Shanghai-Bombay section of the P. & O. Contract Mail Service was suspended throughout the year.
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