HC Deb 01 December 1925 vol 188 cc2190-2

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the contract, dated the 17th day of September, 1923, between His Majesty's Postmaster-General and Messrs. Stout, of Fair Isle, Shetland, for the conveyance of mails between Fair Isle and Sumburgh (Shetland), he approved."—[Sir W. Mitchell-Thomson.]

Captain GARRO-JONES

Far be it for me to strike any note of discord in the harmonious proceedings which have characterised our Debates to-night, but I hope it will not be taken as any evidence of controversy if I ask, Is this matter to be put through the House at this late hour without any Scottish Minister being on the Front Bench? The House has given the Minister of Transport a number of important orders, and thereby exercised a very generous discretion, and we ought not to pass this Motion without a very clear explanation from the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

Mr. BUCHANAN

This requires a great deal of explanation. I do not wish to raise the whole question of the postal service in the Islands of Scotland; but this is one point that should be raised. At least the Postmaster-General, who is to some extent responsible, should give us some explanation. At the present time in the Western Island there is great discontent among the inhabitants against the present service of steamships as between island and island and as between the islands and the mainland. We are asked, without the Minister responsible being in his place, to pass this Motion, which may in itself be quite innocent, but the Postmaster-General should at least give us some idea as to whether these boats will be in something like decent condition. At the present time there are men unemployed on the Clyde, and you have boats carrying mails —owned by various firms—which are a disgrace to the merchant service of our country. I know that the Postmaster-General will say that this is a small matter, that it is only a matter of a ferry boat. But whether the boat be large or small the principle is the same. I have raised the question of the postal service in these islands many times.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Mr. James Hope)

May I point out that the Motion before the House deals only with the service in the Shetlands.

Mr. BUCHANAN

These questions are all bound up. On Second Readings we are always allowed a fairly general latitude. I do not want to strain that latitude, but Shetland and the Western Isles are all part of the same problem, and I hope the Postmaster-General—who is well known for his courtesy, a courtesy which hardly characterises most of his colleagues—will give us a statement in connection with Shetland, that it will not be like the service in the Western Islands, but that Shetland will get better treatment.

The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir William Mitchell Thomson)

rose—

Mr. N. MACLEAN

On a point of Order. Is this exempted business?

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

No.

Mr. MACLEAN

Then I object.

Sir W. MITCHELL THOMSON

I am sorry. It means that the Islands will not get it.

Mr. MACLEAN

Do not be insolent. We must have time to discuss these things.

It being after Eleven of the Clock, the Debate stood adjourned.

Debate to be resumed To-morrow.

The remaining Government Orders were read, and postponed.

Whereupon Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER, pursuant to the Order of the House of 16th November, proposed the Question, "That this House do now adjourn."

Adjourned accordingly at Twenty-six Minutes after Eleven o'Clock.