§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will state when the proposed experimental steamer service between Mallaig and Stornoway will commence, and for how long this experimental service will be in operation; and in view of the dissatisfaction which exists in regard to the present steamer service, will care be taken that tenders are invited for the new steamer service between Mallaig and Stornoway as soon 238 as the precise nature of the service to be given has been determined.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe institution of any mail service by steamer between Mallaig and Stornoway is dependent upon the opening of the railway to Mallaig, upon the times at which the railway company may finally decide to run the trains, and upon the arrangements which the Postmaster General may be able to make with the company. The question of inviting tenders for a permanent mail service by steamer between the above-named places will be further considered when any service, which it may be found desirable to establish experimentally, has been in actual operation for a sufficient period.