CO129-301 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [9-12] — Page 376

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of Postmen, there is not sufficient room in the quarters. It

is possible this could be got over by building an extra story

above the present rooms.

34

The Postmen have no distinctive uni-

forms and it would be a good thing if this could be supplied.

and the 2nd.Clerk that

It was stated to me by the Postmaster

Postmen have complained of not being admitted to deliver let-

ters in some cases as they were not known as postmen and this

may possibly account for some of the cases of late delivery

mentioned by Mr.Wright.

35. Many of the large firms in Shanghai

send the bulk of their letters through the French and German

Post Offices although I understand that with parcels,regis- tered and important articles they use the British Post Office.

36. I visited the French and German Post

Offices when in Shanghai and found that at the former I could purchase 13 stamps of 25 centimes each and at the latter 12 of 20 prennings each for one dollar, so that by French Post Office 13 letters, and by German 12 letters, of one ounce each can be sent to Europe for one dollar as against 10 by

British.

37. This is an anomaly and it appears

to me that the French and German Post Offices are sailing very near the wind as regards an infringement of Article 1V

of the detailed regulations attached to the Postal Convention

of Washington of June 1897.

38.