HC Deb 18 June 1895 vol 34 c1377
MAJOR DARWIN (Staffordshire, Lichfield)

I beg to ask the Postmaster General, whether, before undertaking on behalf of the Post Office to pay large sums of public money as a subsidy for the new mail service from Holyhead to Kingstown, he will make certain that there will be satisfactory third-class accommodation both on the new steamers themselves and on the trains which will be run in immediate connection with them?

MR. ARNOLD MORLEY

As I have frequently stated in reply to questions, I did not feel warranted in making the conveyance of third-class passengers one of the conditions of the new service. I may, however, say that I asked the directors of the London and North Western Railway Company to give special consideration to the matter, and I regretted to find that they considered that they could not, having regard to the circumstances, undertake the conveyance of third-class passengers by the Irish mail trains. I have every reason to hope that substantial improvement will be made in the second-class accommodation.

MR. WILLIAM KENNY (Dublin, St. Stephen's Green)

I beg to ask the Postmaster General if he will state when it is anticipated the new steamers for the mail contract between Kingstown and Holyhead will be completed; if the contract with the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company has been now formally concluded; and, if it contains a clause providing for the new service being entered on by any particular date?

MR. ARNOLD MORLEY

I asked the company immediately on their acceptance of the terms agreed upon on what date they would be ready to commence the service, but I have only received their reply, which has not yet been considered, this morning The contract could not, of course, be completed without this information.