§ MR. HAROLD COX (Preston)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Hong Kong mail contract which was temporarily renewed after a debate in this House on March 27th last, will shortly expire; whether it is proposed to make a new contract for the same service; and, if so, whether he can assure the House that, in accordance with the principle laid down by himself in the course of that debate, care will be taken that an absolute equivalent is received for the money spent.
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON, Tower Hamlets, Poplar)The contract with the Canadian Pacific Railway Company for the conveyance of mails to Canada and the Far East expires April 6th. The question of its renewal for a limited period and under certain conditions has been raised by the Canadian Government, and is now under consideration. Any proposal for the renewal of the contract will necessarily be submitted to the House.