Note 213 — I THE RATE FOR LETTERS (continued 2)

On such packets the rate was 1 centime for each 5 grammes. M. Millerand was of opinion that any rate less than 5 centimes involved a loss to the net revenue. In 1877 it had been estimated that the average cost of dealing with a postal packet (taking all classes into consideration) was 8 centimes: in 1889 it had been estimated at 5.5 centimes. The Budget Commission of 1901 estimated the cost at 4 centimes.—See Rapport portant fixation du Budget générale, Chambre des Députés, 1901, No. 1866.