§ MR. MCHUGH (Sligo, N.)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he can state approximately when the new contract for the carriage of mails across Canada will be submitted to the House for confirmation; and whether the Government will, before entering into an agreement with any Canadian railway company, give due consideration to the interests of Ireland in connection with this matter.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI am unable to state at present when the new contract will be submitted to this House for confirmation. As regards the particular contract in question, it is a continuation for three years of an existing contract at a greatly reduced payment. If a route more advantageous than that of the Canadian-Pacific Railway Company should hereafter become available its adoption will not be precluded by the proposed contract with that company.