§ MR. CHARLES DEVLIN (Galway)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount of subsidy paid to the Allan Line for the carrying of mails to Canada; whether the subsidy is paid by His Majesty's Government or by the Canadian authorities; whether any portion of the subsidy is defrayed by His Majesty's Government, and, if so, how much; and whether any other line than the Allan Line is in receipt of a subsidy for the conveyance of mails direct to Canada.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I am not aware of the amount of the subsidy. The arrangements with the Allan Line are made by the Canadian authorities; and no portion of the subsidy is paid direct by His Majesty's Government. The payment for the conveyance of mails from the United Kingdom sent by the service in question is made to the Canadian Post Office under the ordinary arrangements of the Postal Union. His Majesty's Government does not pay a subsidy to any shipping company for the conveyance of mails directly to Canada.