HC Deb 09 May 1905 vol 145 cc1339-40
MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if it is the intention to establish a marine post office on the liners plying between England and the United States; and, if so, will he appoint those officers to the sea post office who have successfully dealt with American mails on the Dublin and Queenstown T. P. O. for a number of years, and whose experience of such work specially fits them for, and gives them a claim to, a position on the marine post office.

THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Lord STANLEY,) Lancashire, Westhoughton

The Answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative. The mails between this country and the United States will be sorted at sea by a force supplied partly by the Post Office of the United States, and partly by the British Post Office. The matter is an administrative one of a new kind. I cannot admit that any particular body of officers has a claim to the new duties, and the men selected will be those who are considered the most competent to perform this work.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

Would not the people in the habit of doing this work be the most fit for it?

LORD STANLEY

Yes, probably.

MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the non-transference of the men now sorting mails between Queenstown and Dublin will inflict serious injury on them? Will he take that into consideration?

LORD STANLEY

No, Sir. The only consideration must be that of getting the best men I can for the work.

CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)

Will the proposed change make any alteration in the existing arrangement for landing the American mails at Queenstown?

LORD STANLEY

No, Sir.