§ 90. Sir OWEN THOMASasked the Postmaster-General whether, in considering the tenders which he has invited for carrying the Irish mail from Holyhead to Kingstown, he will bear in mind the position of the large number of sailors employed by the City of Dublin Steamship Company, which has held the mail contract for the best part of a century, these men having established their families at Holyhead and Kingstown on the understanding that their employment was permanent, which would not be the case should the contract be given to another company?
§ Mr. PEASEI have not yet invited tenders, but am about to do so. If the City of Dublin Company does not continue to carry the mails, either because 2010 it does not tender, or because its tender is not accepted, I have no reason to doubt that it will recognise any proper obligations towards its employees. Such obligations cannot properly be transferred to the taxpayer. The placing of the new contract must be governed solely by consideration of the public interest.