§ MR. A. M'ARTHURasked the Postmaster General, Whether, in view of the serious complaints of the British residents in Madagascar as to the infrequent and irregular delivery of the mails from England, and as to the inability of Her Majesty's Consul at Tamatave to afford relief, he will take steps to place the postal communication between this Country and Madagascar, as far as possible, on a more satisfactory basis?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREI am very sorry that the mails for Madagascar are not delivered with the frequency and regularity which the British residents in that place could desire; but we avail ourselves of the only opportunity that at present exists—namely, that of the monthly French Packet—to send the mails. To establish an independent British Mail Service would be very costly; and the small amount of correspondence sent to Madagascar would not justify Her Majesty's Government in incurring such an expense as would be necessary on this account.