CO129-314 - Public Offices - 1902 — Page 329

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Last week quite a sweeping reduction came into effect.

The Dumestic rate, i.e., interport and inland, is

now one cent per half ounce, and, in accordance with

an understanding previously existing, the rate to

Hongkong is four cente; the rate to Union und Non-

union countries requins as before. A British ponny

rate will not conflict in any way with Chinese Zustal

interests, and, as for an agency at Tienbein, so

long as all cannot be kerb away un addition can do

no harm

J

in fact, there may be safety in numbers.

But this canny rate over fu wide a purtace as the

British Pursessions may possibly have some that

disturbing effect on Portal Union arrangements oven

while justifiable as a domestic measure: biluħ,

however need not interfere with Chinese wurk. It

is extension inland and the carriage of mile for a

large native population, that the Chinese Imperial

Post Office has mainly in view; Oversea portul work

will also be provided for as far as may be neceasury,

but, at the present moment, this is better in the

hands of foreign offices at the mail terminus Shanghai.

There