§ MR. HOGANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he can state the actual loss of time that would result from the substitution of Fremantle for Albany as the Western Australian calling port for mail steamers, and whether there is any prospect of the eastern colonies waiving their objections to the proposed change.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThe extra steaming time involved in the substitution would be about seven hours, and a further margin of five hours would be required for contingent delays arising from the greater exposure of Fremantle Harbour. The matter is still under discussion.