§ MR. H. D. MCLAREN (Staffordshire, W.)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that inconvenience arises to the mercantile community in Stafford, Birmingham, and other manufacturing centres, owing to the arrival and departure of the Cape mails on the same day, namely, Saturday, causing always a delay of a week in answering letters from South Africa; and whether he will endeavour to arrange with the shipping companies concerned that the incoming mails shall be landed in this country not later than Thursday.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI am aware of the inconvenience to which the hon. Member refers, but unfortunately I fear that there is no remedy. Any alteration in the direction indicated would result in serious inconvenience in South Africa.