§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)asked the Postmaster General, If it is true that a contract has been signed for seven years for the conveyance of mails to and from Australia; if it is true that the rate of speed for the mail steamers has been fixed at less than 12 knots an hour during the next seven years; is he aware that eight out of the 16 steamers now engaged on the contract can easily steam 16 knots an 1488 hour, and some of them in bad weather have averaged this rate of speed the whole distance to Australia; and, is he aware that, even going on what is known as an economical consumption of coal, these steamers have easily accomplished a 14½ knot speed from Australia on several occasions during the past few months?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)Two such contracts have been entered into, subject to the approval of Parliament—one with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, and the other with the Orient Steam Navigation Company. The conditions as to speed are that the mails shall be carried (under penalties for overtime) in 32 days from Naples to Adelaide, and in 32½ days from Brindisi to Adelaide, including the landing of mails at King George's Sound, and all other stoppages that may be made on the voyage. Some of the steamers which will be employed in this service will, no doubt, be faster than others; and it is obvious that contractors undertaking a mail service under heavy penalties for overtime would not be bound by the time possible to their swiftest ships. Allowing for stops, the average running speed under these contracts may be reckoned at about 12 knots.
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONwished to know, whether any premium was given for excess of speed?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)I think it will be better to defer this Question until the contract is on the Table.