Mr. CATHCART WASONasked what arrangements have been made for the conveyance of mails from Burray and St. Margaret's Hope to connect with the mail steamer at Hoxa?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have approved a proposal for using a small steamer instead of a sailing boat for these mail services.
Mr. CATHCART WASONasked if, in view of the fact that communications between Burray, South Ronaldshay, and the mainland are extremely unsatisfactory, he will state when the existing contract with the North of Scotland Company for conveyance of mails from Scapa to Scrabster expires; and if on its expiry he will invite separate tenders for conveyance of mails from Scapa to Scrabster, and from Burray and South Ronaldshay to Scapa?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe contract is determinable by six months' notice on either side, expiring on the eleventh day of February in any year, and I cannot give any undertaking as to the course which would be pursued in the event of its determination.
Mr. CATHCART WASONasked whether there is any prospect of the mail steamer from Scapa calling at the St. Margaret's Hope pier, or if he adheres to the position taken up by the Post Office for reasons already given?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI think my hon. Friend is aware that the pier is not in such a position as to admit of access by ordinary sized vessels at all states of the tide. This difficulty apart, I have no reason to suppose that other places concerned would acquiesce in the earlier dispatch of mails which such a call would entail.