§ SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can now say when the new contract for the conveyance of mails between England and China viâ Canada can be printed and circulated for the information of the House; and when it is likely to be brought before the House?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON,) Leeds, N.I hope the contract and Treasury Minute will be circulated to-morrow.
§ SIR GEOEGE BADEN-POWELLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, in regard to the new contract for the conveyance of mails between England and Canada and China, Messrs. Allan have publicly declared that now they are released from mail duties they will be able to improve their service via Londonderry to Canada; whether the Dominion, Beaver, and other regular lines will continue to run as before unaffected by the new arrangements; whether the contractors for the new service, in their own interests, make special provision for Irish mails and passengers; and whether the new service will compete directly, not with any existing British lines, but with the subsidised French and German lines carrying the existing Continental trade, and especially the French line now running to Canada which is subsidised by the Canadian Government?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSIn answer to my hon. Friend I have to say that the Secretary of State has not a copy of the contract, and has no official knowledge of these details. He has no reason to doubt the accuracy of the facts stated by my hon. Friend; but the subject is one for the Dominion Government to deal with.