Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the 1052 danger incurred by passengers landing at South Ronaldshay in a small boat from the mail steamer; that only last September a number of passengers were nearly drowned; that the mail steamship company especially disowns any responsibility for the landing of passengers; if he will ascertain on what terms the North of Scotland Steamship Company would call at the pier, St. Margaret's Hope, South Ronaldshay; what extra time would be taken by such a call, and whether such extra time could be made up by acceleration of service?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)As was explained to the hon. Member in October last, it is only in rough weather that any difficulty is experienced in transferring passengers at Hoxa from the mail steamer to the boat; and on the occasion to which he particularly refers a smaller boat happened to be in use during the repair of the larger one, while there was an exceptional number of passengers. I am not aware that the steamship company "especially disowns any responsibility for the landing of passengers." The company were approached some time ago on the question of calling at the pier at St. Margaret's Hope, which would occupy about half an hour; but they were not prepared to do so without additional payment. I will ascertain what this would be and inform the hon. Member. But it would not be practicable to make up the loss of time, and such an arrangement would therefore necessitate an earlier departure from Stromness and Scapa, to which, I understand, there would be considerable objection. Moreover, I am informed that it is not at present possible for the mail steamer to reach the pier in question at certain states of the tide, so that a regular service could not be afforded.