§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State to the Colonies if he will state what are the arrangements of the Government as to the Australian mail service, and when the present mail contract ceases; and whether the Commonwealth Government have made any arrangements with the Home Government on the subject of the carriage of mails for the future.
§ THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr SYDNEY BUXTON,) Tower Hamlets, PoplarPerhaps I may be allowed to answer this Question. The arrangements are as follows:—Under a contract with the Peninsula and Oriental Company for a mail service to and from India, China and Australia; a fortnightly service is provided by His Majesty's Government to and from Australia; and under a contract with the Oriental Company an alternating fortnightly service in both directions is provided by the Australian Government. Both contracts expire on January 31st, 1908. The Commonwealth Government have made no arrangements with the Home Government on the subject of the carriage of mails after that date.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDAm I to understand that the contract with the Peninsula and Oriental Company is entirely paid for by the British Government and that with the Oriental Company by he Commonwealth Government?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThat is substantially the case.