§ MR. CALDWELL (Lanarkshire, Mid.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can state for what services to the Admiralty the sum of £7,312 is annually paid by the Admiralty under the mail contract with the Canadian Pacific Railway Company for the conveyance of mails between Canada, 166 Japan, and Hong Kong; and if he will give the names and amounts of subsidy, respectively, of any steamships subsidised in respect of the above payment.
§ * MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe amount mentioned by the hon. Member is paid by the Admiralty under the agreement whereby five vessels of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company are held at the disposal of the Admiralty for service in time of war as armed cruisers. The subvention amounts to £3,250 a year less 25 per cent. in the case of each of the following three vessels:—"Empress of India," "Empress of China," "Empress of Japan." The two other vessels (the "Tartar" and "Athenian") are held at the disposal of the Admiralty without subsidy.