§ MR. P. O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)asked the Postmaster General, Whether the Government have any contracts with, the Midland Railway Company (England) for the carriage of mails; and what is the amount of such contracts; and, whether the Government have any powers under these contracts to inquire, with a view to the safety and despatch of the mails, into the efficiency of the trains by which these mails are conveyed, and the competency of the men by whom they are conducted; and, if so, whether he will take steps to satisfy himself that the Midland mail trains are not placed in charge of engine drivers unacquainted with the Midland line?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)In reply to the Question of the hon. Member, I have to state that the Midland 1549 Railway Company does contract with the Post Office for the conveyance of mails, and the annual payments made under the contracts with that Company amount to £54,075. Up to the present moment I have seen no sufficient cause to complain of irregularity in the moil train service. Moreover, having regard to the great length of time during which the Midland Railway Company have performed, to the entire satisfaction of the Department, the mail services contracted for, the magnitude of the Company, and the excellence of its management, it will be obvious to the House that any interference in the direction pointed to in the question of the hon. Member would be quite uncalled for, and, especially in the difficult circumstances in which the Company have recently been placed, inconsiderate and ungenerous.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)Will the right hon. Gentleman say what power he possesses by law?
§ MR. RAIKESThere is no power on the part of any Department of the Government to interfere with the internal management of any Railway Company. The Postmaster General has the right to complain if the mail service is inefficient or irregular.