Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Postmaster-General, whether, in view of the fact that direct steam service was now provided to East Africa by the Union Castle Line viâ the Cape, he would ascertain on what terms that company could complete the round trip viâ the Suez Canal; whether the sum of £9,000 was still paid by the Post Office for the conveyance of mails from Aden to Mombasa; and if he would state what saving to the Post Office would be effected if the Aden-Mombasa mails were conveyed by German or French steamers?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have ascertained that the Union Castle Company is not at present prepared to make the arrangement suggested. The sum of £9,000 per annum is still paid to the British India Steam Navigation Company in respect of the service maintained by them between Aden, Mombasa and Zanzibar in both directions. If all the mails conveyed on this service were carried by French or German Packets there would be a saving to the Post Office Vote of £7,200 per annum.