§ MR. F. H. EVANS (Southampton)I beg to ask the Postmaster General is he aware that on the 11th March Her Majesty's mails were taken by the steamship Aurania from Liverpool; that on the same day the steamship New York left Southampton without Her Majesty's mails, and arrived at New York 29 hours before the steamer carrying Her Majesty's mails; on the 15th March the Trave, from Southampton, without mails, arrived at New York 17¾ hours before the Britannic, from Liverpool same day with mails; on the 25th March the Paris from Southampton, without mails, arrived at New York 53 hours ahead of the Servia, from Liverpool same day with mails; on the 29th March the Havel, from Southampton, without mails, arrived at New York 52 hours ahead of the Germanic, from Liverpool same day with mails; on 8th April the New York, from Southampton, without mails, arrived at New York 34 hours ahead of the Aurania, from Liverpool same day with mails; on 26th April the Havel, from Southampton, without mails, arrived at New York 54 hours ahead of the Germanic, from Liverpool same day with mails; on 6th May, the New York, from Southampton, without mails, arrived at New York 46 hours ahead of the Aurania, from Liverpool same day with mails; on 10th May the 1664 Britannic left Liverpool with mails, and arrived at New York 14 hours behind the Spree, without mails, although the latter vessel left Southampton on 11th May, a day later; and would he be willing to receive and favourably consider suggestions from the Postmaster General of the United States that would insure important correspondence between Great Britain and America being sent by steamers that would insure its earliest delivery?
§ MR. A. MORLEYIn the cases mentioned in the question, which are selected as specially favourable to Southampton, the departures and arrivals officially recorded do not differ very widely from those stated in the question; but, while the steamers from Southampton proceed directly to New York, it was necessary for those from Liverpool to call at Queenstown for mails, so as to give the advantage of a later posting. Mails containing specially addressed correspondence were, in fact, carried by all the steamers from Southampton. These mails, leaving London early in the morning, consisted chiefly of letters posted the previous evening—that is to say, 24 hours earlier than the letters sent in the corresponding mails from Queenstown. Persons preferring the Southampton route for their correspondence have only to superscribe their letters accordingly to secure their transmission by that route. The Department has no means of distinguishing important correspondence, and regards all mails as equally important.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.E.)Is it not a fact that the vessels named as sailing from Southampton are much faster than those by the Queenstown route, and that, given steamers of equal speed, the advantage would be greatly in favour of Queenstown?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI mentioned that they were specially selected as favourable for the Southampton route.
§ MR. F. H. EVANSBut, even after deducting the 24 hours, which I do not admit to be fair, is there not an advantage in favour of the Southampton route of something like 20 hours?
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)Is it a fact that by the slower route parcels are charged 3s. a pound, 1665 whereas the rate by the fast vessels is only 1s. 8d. per pound?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI cannot speak to the fact as to the exact number of hours' advantage possessed by one route over another; but the hon. Member has certainly selected vessels which, after allowing the 24 hours, give a considerable advantage to the Southampton route.
§ MR. FORWOOD (Lancashire, Ormskirk)Are the times taken from Loudon?
§ MR. A. MORLEYYes.