157
(8)
My Lords trust that the Secretary of State will concur with them in this matter, and they desire me to state that a further communication will be addressed to you when the report called for from the Post Office shall have been received.
I am, &c., (Signed)
HENRY SELWIN IBBETSON.
Colonial Office.
P. G. W. HERBERT, Esquire,
(Copy) No. 10947.
SIR.
The Treasury to the Colonial Office.
TREASURY CHAMBERS,
9th June, 1880.
With reference to the letter from this Board No. 8747 of 16th May, 1879, on the subject of obtaining contributions from the Colonies of Ceylon, the Straits Settlements and Hongkong, towards the expenses entailed upon the Imperial Exchequer by the Packet Service by which their correspondence is conveyed, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies that my Lords have now received a report from the Postmaster General as to the amount of the proposed contribution.
(9)
2. Lord KIMBERLEY is prepared to admit the justice of the principle that the total amount of loss should be shared in equal proportions between this Country and the Colonies concerned, although he regrets that this principle was not laid down and insisted upon at an earlier period. For the Colonies have agreed to their postal arrangements under the conditions specified in the Treasury letter of 15th March, 1876, and it is reasonable to suppose that they might have been influenced in the decision then taken had they been aware of these further proposals.
3. A reference to the Post Office memorandum dated 14th February, 1876, and enclosed in the Treasury letter of 15th March, 1876, makes it difficult to understand the basis of the calculations adopted in the letter now under reply, inasmuch as it is apparently proposed to call upon Ceylon to pay much less, and the Straits Settlements to pay much more than half what was then estimated as the total amount of loss on the mail service in respect of those two Colonies (including the additional loss caused by their admission into the Postal Union).
4. Before therefore making any recommendations on the subject to the Colonial Governments, Lord KIMBERLEY requests that he may be furnished with fuller statistics showing what is calculated as the total amount of loss on the mail service in respect of each Colony, and whether the figures now given represent half that loss. His Lordship would further be glad to receive a copy of any correspondence which has passed with the Post Office on the subject, and any other information which will assist him in forming an opinion on the subject.
The calculations are based upon the number of letters carried and the distance over which they are carried and in accordance with this principle the amounts to be paid would be
by Ceylon, £2,721
Straits Settlements, £7,071
Hongkong, £13,771
The Colonies would, should these terms be agreed to, be no longer charged with the moiety of the additional annual loss incurred in consequence of those Colonies having joined the Postal Union.
5. Lord KIMBERLEY also desires to know whether the sum of £13,771 which it is proposed to charge to Hongkong is intended to refer to that Colony only, as distinct from China and Japan generally.
My Lords would be glad to be favoured with any observations the Secretary of State have to offer on this proposal.
I am, &c.,
(Signed)
WILLIAM LAW.
I am, &c.,
(Signed)
R. G. W. HERBERT.
The Secretary to the Treasury.
(Copy)
No. 13565.
SIR,
The Treasury to the Colonial Office.
TREASURY CHAMBERS,
30th July, 1880.
The Colonial Office to the Treasury.
DOWNING STREET,
(Copy)
26th June, 1880.
SIR.
I am directed by the Earl of KIMBERLEY to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th June regarding the amounts of contribution which in the opinion of the Lords of the Treasury should be paid by Ceylon, Hongkong and the Straits Settlements respectively, towards the loss incurred by the Postal Service by which those Colonies are served.
I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit to you herewith for the information of the Earl of KIMBERLEY, with reference to your letter of the 26th ultimo in regard to the contribution which it is proposed should be paid by the Colonies of Ceylon, Hongkong and the Straits Settlements respectively towards the loss incurred by the Postal Service by which those Colonies are served, copy of a Report on the subject which my Lords have received from the Postmaster General, dated the 26th instant.
I am, &c.,
(Signed)
WILLIAM LAW.
The Under Secretary for the Colonies.
157
(8)
My Lords trust that the Secretary of State will concur with them in this matter, and they desire ine to state that a further communication will be addressed to you when the report called for from the Post Office shall have been received.
I am, &c., (Signed)
HENRY SELWIN IBBETSON.
Colonial Office.
P. G. W. HERBERT, Esquire,
(Copy) No. 10947.
SIR.
The Treasury to the Colonial Office.
TREASURY CHAMBERS,
9th June, 1880.
With reference to the letter from this Board No. 8747 of 16th May, 1879, on the subject of obtaining contributions from the Colonies of Ceylon, the Straits Settlements and Hongkong, towards the expenses entailed upon the Imperial Exchequer by the Packet Service by which their correspondence is conveyed, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies that my Lords have now received a report from the Postmaster General as to the amount of the proposed
contributions.
The calculations are based upon the number of letters carried and the distance over which they are carried and in accordance with this principle the amounts to be paid would be
( 9 )
2. Lord KIMBERLEY is prepared to admit the justice of the principle that the total amount of loss should be shared in equal proportious between this Country and the Colonies concerned, although he regrets that this principle was not laid down and insisted upon at an earlier period. For the Colonies have agreed to their postal arrangements under the conditions specified in the Treasury letter of 15th March, 1876, and it is reasonable to suppose that they might have been influenced in the decision then taken had they been aware of these further proposals.
3. A reference to the Post Office memorandum dated 14th February, 1876, and enclosed in the Treasury letter of 15th March, 1876, makes it difficult to understand the basis of the calculations adopted in the letter now under reply, inasmuch as it is apparently proposed to call upon Ceylon to pay much less, and the Straits Settlements to pay much more than half what was then estimated as the total amount of loss on the mail service in respect of those two Colonies (includ- ing the additional loss caused by their admission into the Postal Uniou).
4. Before therefore making any recommendations on the subject to the Colonial Governments, Lord KIMBERLEY requests that he may be furnished with fuller statistics showing what is calculated as the total amount of loss on the mail service in respect of each Colony, and whether the figures now given represent half that His Lordship would further be glad to receive a copy of any correspondence which has passed with the Post Office on the subject, and any other information which will assist him in forming an opinion on the subject.
amount.
5. Lord KIMBERLEY also desires to know whether the sum of £13,771 which it is proposed to charge to Hongkong is intended to refer to that Colony only, as distinct from China and Japan generally.
by Ceylon,
Straits Settlements, Hongkong,
£ 2,721
7,071 13,771
The Colonies would, should these terms be agreed to, be no longer charged with the moiety of the additional annual loss incurred in consequence of those Colonies having joined the Postal Union.
My Lords would be glad to be favoured with any observations the Secretary of State have to offer on this proposal.
may
The Under Secretary for the Colonies.
1 am, &c..
(Signed)
WILLIAM LAW.
I an, &c.,
(Signed)
R. G. W. HERBERT.
The Secretary to the Treasury.
(Copy)
No. 13565.
SIR,
The Treasury to the Colonial Office.
TREASURY CHAMBERS,
30th July, 1880.
The Colonial Office to the Treasury.
DOWNING STREET,
(Cory)
26th June, 1880.
SIR.
I am directed by the Earl of KIMBERLEY to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th June regarding the amounts of contribution which in the opinion of the Lords of the Treasury should be paid by Ceylon, Hongkong and the Straits Settlements respectively, towards the loss incurred by the Postal Service by which those Colonies are served.
I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit to you herewith for the information of the Earl of KIMBERLEY, with reference to your letter of the 26th ultimo in regard to the contribution which it is proposed should be paid by the Colonies of Ceylon, Hongkong and the Straits Settlements respectively towards the loss incurred by the Postal Service by which those Colonies are served, copy of a Report on the subject which my Lords have received from the Postmaster General, dated the 26th instant.
I am, &c.,
(Signed)
WILLIAM LAW.
The Under Secretary for the Colonies.
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