§ MR. E. H. PICKERSGILLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that on the 9th instant two persons in the employment of Messrs. Macnamara and Co., contractors to the Post Office for the conveyance of Her Majesty's mails, were convicted of cruelly working a lame horse; whether he is aware that this same firm, or their managers, foremen, and drivers, have been repeatedly convicted of similar offences; and whether, in these circumstances, the Postmaster General will remove the name of Messrs. Macnamara from the list of firms eligible to tender for Government contracts?
§ MR. HANBURYThe Postmaster General's attention was drawn to the fact that two persons in the employment of Messrs. Macnamara and Co. were recently convicted of working a lame horse. He at once called upon the firm for an explanation, and found that the vehicle drawn by the horse was not engaged in the conveyance of mails, and that the driver was not and never had been employed in the mail service. The Postmaster General is aware that employees of Messrs. 573 Macnamara have been previously convicted of similar offences. With the view of satisfying himself as to the condition of Messrs. Macnamara's horses, the Postmaster General has from time to time caused surprise visits to be paid to the stables of this firm, and the reports which he has received after such visits would not justify him in removing Messrs. Macnamara's name from the list of firms eligible to tender for Government contracts.