§ MR. LYELL (Orkney and Shetland)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that the present contractors for carrying Her Majesty's mails to the North Isles of Orkney are in the habit of frequently changing the days of. sailing, causing a very great inconvenience and loss to the inhabitants and all people having a business connection therewith; whether in future he will fix the days of the week on which (weather permitting) the mails have to be carried to and from these Islands; whether, on the expiry of the present contract, he will put it out publicly for offers; whether it has been brought to his notice that the present contractors refused last year to offer for a longer tri-weekly mail service to these Islands than three mouths, though asked by the Postmaster General to do so; and whether he was aware of that when he replied to the Memorial from the County Council of Orkney recently regarding the Mail Service?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. A. MORLEY, Nottingham, E.)I was not aware of the practice referred to by the hon. Member, and I will have inquiry made with the view, if possible, of arranging the Service to greater advantage. Under the contract the days of sailing were specified. The contractors are not disposed to afford more accommodation, except at large additional outlay, which the circumstances do not justify. I will consider the expediency of advertising the Service on the expiration of the present contract.