Sir GILBERT PARKERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the guarantees offered by the Postmaster-General of the South African Union that, though tenders for the carriage of British mails to South Africa are thrown open to Foreign shipping companies, the contracts will always be given to British companies were considered satisfactory by this Government, which is responsible for the carriage of His Majesty's mails; and what was the reason for including Foreign companies in the tenders?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)His Majesty's Government have no reason to be dissatisfied with the statement of the Postmaster-General of the Union on this point.. It is not considered desirable, as a general principle, to limit the area of competition when calling for tenders.