§ 64. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the mail services to the island of Tirce and to Ardnamurchan and Coll, the Kyles of Bute, and various other parts of Argyll have been reduced in some cases to one-third of the customary number, to the loss, injury, and damage of the inhabitants of these parts; and whether he will insist on immediate restoration of the customary services?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI regret the necessity for the temporary restriction of the mail service to the islands in question. I am informed by the contractors that they will be in a position to resume the normal services on or before the 13th December.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it not the case that they kept the normal services up throughout the summer-time, even though coal was more expensive than it is now; and is it not also the case that they are in negotiation for a new contract just now, and are they not using this means of bringing pressure on the Postmaster-General?
§ 66. Mr. MacKENZIE LIVINGSTONEasked the Postmaster-General whether he is now in a position to state the result: of his communications with the contractors regarding the early restoration of the normal mail service to the Western Isles; and, if not, whether he will insist upon an immediate resumption of the normal service to all the islands?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI am informed by the contractors that they will he in a position to resume the normal services on or before the 13th December.
§ Mr. LIVINGSTONEIs the Minister aware that in the Highlands and Islands there is a growing impression that the Government feel more concern for the 1196 profits of this company than for the welfare of the people in those districts?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI can assure the hon. Member that that impression, if it exists, which I rather doubt, is entirely erroneous.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs the Minister pot aware that by the system of giving a subsidy to one steamboat company, without any control or restrictions over it, he is giving it all the advantages and leading to all the abuses of nationalisation coupled with all the cupidity of private enterprise?
§ Mr. LIVINGSTONEMay the House know from the Postmaster-General whether he has allowed this shipping company to break its own contract with him?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONNo, Sir; I have already explained that under the circumstances it was impossible to force them to perform services which they could not perform.
§ Mr. LIVINGSTONEI would like to press this point. Does that mean that the Government are more concerned for the profits of that company than for the welfare of the highland people?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENrose.—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe last question was rather argumentative.