HC Deb 09 July 1883 vol 281 cc798-9
MR. W. H. SMITH

Can the Postmaster General inform the House what steps have been taken to provide for the transmission of the overland mails from the East which were not allowed to be landed at Brindisi, and what future arrangements will be made with regard to mails coming homeward through the Suez Canal?

MR. FAWCETT

Sir, we received information from the manager of the Peninsular and Oriental Company on Saturday that a mob of people had refused to allow the mails to be landed at Brindisi, and the course we adopted was this—a telegram was at once sent ordering the vessel to proceed to Trieste and land the mails there. When I went to the Post Office a short time since we had not been able to ascertain what length of quarantine the Austrian Government would require at Trieste, and consequently it is impossible to say positively when the mails will arrive in London. With regard to the next steamer, which will bring a much heavier mail, the opinion at the present moment is that it would be better, under the circumstances, to order the vessel to proceed direct by sea to England, and instructions will be given to that effect.

Subsequently,

VISCOUNT FOLKESTONE

wished to ask, as the right hon. Gentleman said that the next mail would be a heavy one, and instructions had been given for it to be sent by sea to England, whether the Government thought it necessary to establish a quarantine at Plymouth or other ports, or what precautions were to be taken to prevent the importation of cholera?

MR. FAWCETT

said, that he had communicated with the Privy Council on Friday last. Every care had been taken to disinfect the bags by soaking them in tar. The Sanitary Committee of the Privy Council thought that was a sufficient precaution, and the matter rested with them.

VISCOUNT FOLKESTONE

said, that such a process would not disinfect the passengers and crew on board the vessels.

MR. FAWCETT

said, he thought the noble Lord would see that that Question was not one for the Post Office. The Question ought rather to be addressed to the Local Government Board or other authority whom it concerned.