§ MR. PRESTON BRUCE (Fifeshire, W.)asked the Postmaster General, Whether his attention has been called to the discontinuance at the beginning of this month of the sorting van, which for the last two or three years has been running between Burntisland and Dundee, and which has proved to be a very great public convenience in respect to the interchange of letters locally in the County of Fife; whether the discontinuance of this van is the act of the North British Railway Company, and connected with differences between that Company and the Post Office, now the subject of arbitration; whether the Post Office has made any attempt to arrange temporarily for the continuance of this van, so as to obviate the derangement and delay of mails which must result from its suspension; and, whether, failing agreement, he has power to compel, and will compel, the Company to restore this sorting van?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)The facts generally are as stated by the hon. Member. The Post Office did attempt, but unsuccessfully, to arrange for the continuance of the sorting carriages in Fifeshire. Until the umpire in the pending arbitration has made his award, I shall not be prepared to re-enter on the consideration of this Question. I believe the last sitting of the umpire and arbitrators is fixed for the latter part of this week, so we may hope before long to have the award.