Sir GILBERT PARKERasked whether under the Post Office Bill passed by the Union Parliament of South Africa foreign shipping companies may tender for the carriage of mails from this country to South Africa; and, if so, whether this Government, through the Postmaster-General, has given its sanction to this arrangement?
Mr. HARCOURTThere is nothing in the Union of South Africa Post Office Act to prevent foreign shipping companies tendering for the carriage of mails, but on 17th March the Union Minister of Posts and Telegraphs stated in the Union Parliament that the Union Government had never contemplated any but a British company, and never would entertain any contract with a company other than a British one.