Page:The empire and the century.djvu/360

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UNIVERSAL PENNY POSTAGE
317

in this country. He said: 'Give us more intimate and constant personal correspondence, and—may I add, without indiscretion—give us facilities for the transmission of our correspondence somewhat less archaic than the two countries now provide (laughter and cheers)—more nearly up to the demands of the wide-awake, active, twentieth-century Anglo-Saxon of either hemisphere.'

In conclusion, and bearing in mind Mr. Whitelaw Reid's eloquent appeal, I would repeat the words of my motion made in the House of Commons, just twenty years ago:

'That, in the opinion of this House, the time has arrived for the Government of this country to open negotiations with other Governments with a view to the establishment of a Universal International Penny Postage system.'

In other words: We have already Universal Halfpenny Postage for printed matter: let them give Universal Penny Postage for written matter.