§ MR. J. P. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will explain in what way it is intended to provide that under the new contract for the conveyance of the mails to and from Australia a saving of four days will be effected; will there be an alteration in the existing route, or does the contract provide for a much higher rate of speed than heretofore; is there any provision in the new contract for accelerating the overland passage of the Australian mails from Naples or Brindisi to London, and averting the delays on this section that have occurred in the past; and will the sea carriage of the Australian mails be in the hands of one Company under the new contract?
§ MR. HANBURYThe saving of time in the conveyance of the mails to and from Australia under the new contract will be effected by acceleration at sea. There will be no alteration in the existing route, except that the port of call in Western Australia may be changed to suit the wishes of the Colonies. The new contract will necessitate a considerable increase of speed on the part of the mail packets. There will be no provision in the new contracts as to the conveyance of the mails overland, that being a matter with which the steamship companies are not concerned. The sea carriage will be in the hands of the Peninsular and Oriental and Orient Companies, as at present.