§ MR. KENNY (for Mr. DAWSON)asked the Postmaster General, Whether he will state to the House the minima of length, breadth, tonnage, horse-power, and other conditions required to secure in the future mail boats for Ireland at least equal speed and stability as possessed by those now on the service; whether there is any probability of inferior boats being even temporarily used; whether he will secure for the Irish Mail Service a land transit as rapid as that supplied on the Great Northern and Midland Lines to Leeds, viz. 45.61 miles and 45.33 miles respectively; and, whether he will also secure for passengers by the Irish Mail Service a rate of charge not exceeding that charged by the London and North Western Company on their Scotch Mail Service?
§ MR. FAWCETTSir, the advertisement for tenders for the service between Holyhead and Kingstown specifies the character of the mail boats employed under the present contract in respect of the particulars referred to by the hon. Member, requests that similar particulars may be supplied of the vessels to be employed under the new contract, and stipulates that such vessels shall be, at the least, equal in respect of speed, stability at sea, and accommodation for mails and for passengers to the vessels now in use. It will be my endeavour to avoid the employment of inferior boats even temporarily for the Irish mail service. I am fully alive to the desirability of obtaining for the Irish mail service as rapid a land transit as practicable, and have asked the London and North-Western Railway Company to state the acceleration they are prepared to afford. In reply to a previous Question, it has been stated that the London and North-Western Railway Company have been 789 informed that it will be a condition' of any new contract that some security should be given that the public would not be prevented from availing themselves of the mail trains in consequence of unduly high fares.