HC Deb 03 July 1907 vol 177 cc695-6
*MR. SMEATON

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether the new contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Company for the mail service between India and this country provides for a total acceleration of only eight hours; if so, seeing that this acceleration represents little more than a quickening of the Suez Canal transit, whether it is still possible to require an accelerated ocean voyage between Bombay and Aden; and for how many years the contract is to be in force.

THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON,, Poplar) Tower Hamlets

I beg leave to refer the hon. Member to the reply to a Question asked in this House on 27th May, in which I stated that the new contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company would be for a period of seven years, and would provide for an acceleration on the Indian section of eight hours in each direction, as compared with the present service. It was not found practicable to obtain any further acceleration at the present time.

*MR. SMEATON

In view of the growing rates of speed in all the great lines from year to year, would it not be possible still to insert in the contract a stipulation that the speed rate should be revised after a break of three or four years?

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

suggested that the hon. Member should speak to him on the subject privately.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN (Worcestershire, E.)

Is the eight hours' acceleration the only alteration?

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

There will be acceleration in other respects.