§ MR. PINKERTON (Galway)asked the Postmaster General, If Mr. Cunningham, of Galway, Mr. Naughten, of Oughterard, and Mrs. Lydon, of Clifden, have been contractors for the last five years to carry the mail between Galway and Clifden; if, during that time, they have discharged their duties to the satisfaction of the Postal Authorities; and, if so, why has the contract been taken from them; is it a fact that they have done the work for a sum considerably under that paid to the previous contractor; and, if he is prepared to state the amount per annum paid to those parties, and also the price to be paid to the new contractor?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)The persons referred to have held the Clifden night mail contract for about the time specified, and, so far as I am aware, have done their work satisfactorily. The payment they have received has not been lower, but higher, than that paid to the previous contractor. Repeated applications for a day as well as a night mail service having been made, and a competent contractor having been found willing to do both services for a price, but slightly exceeding that paid for the night service alone, I have given notice to terminate the existing contracts. The sum paid for the night mail service is 952 £500 a-year, and the sum to be paid to the new contractor for both day and night services is £550.