§ MR. CHARLES DEVLIN (Galway)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the mid-week mails for the United States were dispatched on Wednesday, 20th June, from Southampton by a German steamer; that, in view of the inability of the managers of the White Star Line to provide their fast steamers for the mail service, recourse is frequently had to German steamers for this purpose; and, seeing that when this course is adopted the mails are closed many hours before the usual time, thus causing inconvenience to the business community, will he say what steps the Government propose taking to ensure regularity in this matter.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI am aware of the course followed on the occasion in question, when, as sometimes happens, the White Star Company find it necessary to employ one of their slower steamers for the mid-week service to the United States, the mails are forwarded by any faster packet that may be available. This arrangement is adopted entirely in the interests of the public, and as it is always announced beforehand I do not think that inconvenience is caused by it. Although on such occasions the bulk of the mails leave London on Wednesdays earlier than usual, it is the practice to despatch supplementary mails at the regular hour for embarkation on board the White Star packet at Queenstown.