§ MR. BAZLEYsaid, he would beg to ask the Post Master General, Whether the late Government, before its retirement from Office, renewed the Cunard Contract for seven years at the annual rate of £70,000; the Inman Contract for the same period at £35,000 per annum; and the North German Lloyd Contract at a letter-rate charge, terminable at six months' notice? he had given Notice also to ask, whether such contracts, if granted, are not infractions of the implied promises of Members of the late Government that in future a self-supporting system of Ocean Postage should be established?—but refrained from doing so at present; he however asked, whether, under these circumstances, it will not be the duty of the present Government to withhold the ratification of those contracts?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONWith regard to the first Question of my hon. Friend, I have to state that the old contract with the Cunard Company terminated on the last day of December, 1867; the arrangements for the conveyance of the mails between England and America for the year 1868 were of a temporary character, and included a fixed subsidy to the Cunard Company, and a payment at so much per weight of mails carried to the Inman Company, the North German, and the Hamburg American Companies. In August of last year tenders were advertised for by the Government for the conveyance of the mails for the present and future years, and, after some negotiations with the various companies concerned, contracts were entered into with the Cunard Company for two services a week for the yearly subsidy of £70,000; with the Inman Company for one service a week at £35,000 a year, and with the North German Lloyd Company at a payment of so much per weight of mails carried. It is therefore not quite accurate to say that the contract with the Cunard Company was renewed by the late Government, because an interval of one year 717 occurred between the old contract and the present one, and the terms were very different. I am glad my hon. Friend has postponed his second Question, because it is not one which I should be justified in answering. The subject will be again before the House, and it will then be possible for my hon. Friend and those who agree with him to urge their views of the case, and for the Members of the late Government to defend their action in the matter. With regard to the last Question, I have to state that the contracts were completed before the present Government took Office, as far as they could be completed without the sanction of Parliament; they were placed on the table of the House on the 2nd instant, and if not disapproved within a month from that date they will become binding.
§ MR. HADFIELDsaid, he would like to know whether the noble Lord would take any steps for the establishment of 1d. postage between the two countries?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, this was a question that might very properly be discussed when the question of the contracts came before the House.