TREASURY CHAMBERS, 17th October, 1855.
MY LORDS,
(COPY.)
To the Lords of the Treasury,
SIR,
WITH reference to Mr. Elliot's letter, dated 27th August last, relative to the proposal of the Postmaster-General that the control of the Post Offices in the Colonies in the West Indies should be surrendered to the Colonial Governments, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit to you herewith copy of a letter from the Postmaster-General, dated 27th ultimo, upon the subject, and I am to request you will move Secretary Sir William Molesworth to take the necessary steps for ascertaining the views of the several Colonial Governments in the West Indies on this matter.
I am, &c.,
I HAVE the honour to return the Letter from the Colonial Office, dated the 27th ultimo, on the subject of the proposal which I made to your Lordships in my letter of the 14th July last, to surrender to the respective Colonial Governments in the West Indies the control of their Post Offices.
Sir William Molesworth offers no objection to the arrangement contemplated, but points out that in the event of the several Colonial Governments assuming the control of their own Posts, they will have the full right, under the provisions of the Act of 12 & 13 Vict., cap. 66, to make any alteration they may think proper in the amount of postage at present levied upon their correspondence with the United Kingdom; and while expressing his opinion that it is desirable for the interests of the commercial classes that no change should be made in this respect, he foresees the probability of the wishes of the Colonies not being unanimous in favour of the present sixpenny rate of postage.
Under these circumstances, and as I agree with Sir W. Molesworth in opinion that any variation in this uniform rate would, doubtless, be attended with considerable inconvenience, I have to suggest that before proceeding further with this measure, your Lordships will be good enough to communicate again on this subject with Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, requesting him to ascertain the views entertained by the Governors of the several Colonies upon this important point.
H. Merivale, Esq., &c. &c. &c.
(Signed) C. E. TREVELYAN.
General Post Office, 27th September, 1855.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) CANNING.
252
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F
No. 3.
TREASURY CHAMBERS,
17th October, 1855.
MY LORDS,
(COPY.)
To the Lords of the Treasury,
ŞIR,
WITH reference to Mr. Elliot's letter, dated 27th August last,
relative to the proposal of the Postmaster-General that the control of the Post
Offices in the Colonies in the West Indies should be surrendered to the Colonial
Governments, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's
Treasury to transmit to you herewith copy of a letter from the Postmaster-
General, dated 27th ultimo, upon the subject, and I am to request you will
move Secretary Sir William Molesworth to take the necessary steps for ascer.
taining the views of the several Colonial Governments in the West Indies on
this matter.
I am, &c.,
1 HAVE the honour to return the Letter from the Colonial Office, dated the 27th ultimo, on the subject of the proposal which I made to your Lordships in my letter of the 14th July last, to surrender to the respective Colonial Governments in the West Indies the control of their Post Offices.
may think
Sir William Molesworth offers no objection to the arrangement contem- plated, but points out that in the event of the several Colonial Governments assuming the control of their own Posts, they will have the full right, under the provisions of the Act of 12 & 13 Vict., capt. 66, to make any alteration they proper in the amount of postage at present levied upon their corres- pondence with the United Kingdom; and while expressing his opinion that it is desirable for the interests of the commercial classes that no change should be made in this repect, he foresees the probability of the wishes of the Colonies not being unanimous in favour of the present sixpenny rate of postage.
Under these circumstances, and as I agree with Sir W. Molesworth in opinion that any variation in this uniform rate would, doubtless, be attended with considerable inconvenience, I have to suggest that before proceeding further with this measure, your Lordships will be good enough to communicate again on this subject with Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, requesting him to ascertain the views entertained by the Governors of the several Colonies upon this important point.
H. Merivale, Esq.,
&c. &c. &c.
(Signed)
C. E. TREVELYAN.
General Post Office,
27th September, 1855.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
CANNING.
252
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