§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON () CanterburyI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the invitations for tenders for the new contracts respecting the conveyance of the Indian and Australian mails have been, or will shortly be, published; and whether he will state the new conditions as to time, speed required, &c.; whether he is aware that, owing to the depreciation of the rupee, large numbers of officers serving in India are either unable to visit England, or find it necessary to travel second class, in company with the soldiers from the ranks; whether he is aware that the French Government has made special arrangements with the Messageries Maritimes Company for a reduction in the fares of French officers serving in the French Colonies; and, whether he will take steps for the inclusion in the new contracts for the conveyance of mails to India and the East of provisions for the transport of officers on active service at reduced fares?
§ MR. HANBURYAs stated in this House in reply to a Question asked on April 17 by the hon. Member for Glasgow (Blackfriars), advertisements for tenders for new contracts for the Indian and Australian mail services were published on and after April 8 last. Among others, tenders have been invited for the conveyance of the mails between Brindisi or some other European port and Bombay in 322 hours, 312 hours, or 302 hours; and between Brindisi, Naples, or some other port in Europe and Adelaide via Colombo and Albany or Fremantle in 720 hours or 672 hours—the Australian service to be performed by steamers starting from and returning to this country, but not at fixed speed. The Postmaster General is not aware that, owing to the depreciation of the rupee, large numbers of officers serving in India are either unable to visit England or find it necessary to travel second class in company with the soldiers from the ranks. He understands that arrangements have been made between the French Government and the Messageries Maritimes Company for a reduction in the fares of French officers serving in French Colonies. He has no intention of initiating any provision such as that suggested by the hon. Member with the view, as it would seem, of affording pecuniary relief to officers in India at the expense of the Post Office revenue.