§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSONI beg to ask the Postmaster-General, whether, having regard to the loss and inconvenience caused to merchants and planters and others connected with the Colonies of British Guiana and the Windward and Leeward Islands from the absence of regular mail facilities since the abandonment of the West Indian mail contract on 30th June, 1905, and having regard to the fact that the Royal Commission which visited the West Indies in 1897, of which the right honourable the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was a member, emphasised in their Report the importance of the establishment of cheap and frequent means of communication between the different islands, and having regard to the fact that the Lords of the Treasury, in a Minute dated 14th June, 1890, recognised in how large a manner the convenience and business of the West Indian Colonies depended upon the punctuality and absolute regularity of their communication with Europe and with each other he will state what steps it is proposed to take to remove the present cause of complaint.
MR.SYDNEYBUXTONThe question of providing regular mail facilities in the West Indies is receiving careful consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make a definite announcement on the subject.