HC Deb 06 February 1900 vol 78 cc726-7
MR. HOGAN

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his department has any objection to Freemantle being made a port of call for the Australian mail steamers now that this harbour is capable of accommodating the largest steamers.

MR. HANBURY

The only objection is the slight loss of time in the passage to and from the Australian ports beyond Western Australia. This objection the Postmaster General does not consider serious, and at the request of the Australian Governments collectively, power was taken in the present mail contracts to require this change of the contractors on allowing them additional time for the detour. The Colonies are not now unanimous in desiring the change, and the Postmaster General understands that all save Western Australia object to the slight extension of time demanded by the contractors. The matter is still under consideration.