§ MR. CHARLES M'ARTHUR (Liverpool, Exchange)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the accelerated mail train service in connection with the mid-week United States mails via Queenstown, by means of which it was possible to deliver mails in New York some four hours earlier than previously, has been discontinued; and whether he will consider the advisability
† See preceding volume, page 1381.1235 of continuing the accelerated service for the purpose of securing early delivery of correspondence, even though its expense has to be borne by the Post Office.
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN (Worcestershire, E.)The service to which the hon. Member refers has been discontinued; but he is mistaken in supposing that it was an accelerated service. The time gained in delivery on the other side was lost by the public posting the correspondence here. The arrangement had, therefore, no postal advantage; and when it was made in deference to the wishes of the White Star Company it was conceded somewhat reluctantly, as it cut short the time for posting letters for the United States in tins Country on Wednesdays by some hours of a business day. Now that the company no longer requires the continuance of the arrangement, those hours have been recovered, while the mid-week course of post to New York is no longer than it was before.