§ 43. Mr. DAVID MASON(for Mr. CRAVEN-ELLIS) asked the Postmaster-General whether it is the practice of his Department to despatch mails by the fastest ships leaving the port irrespective of nationality?
§ Sir K. WOODIt is the practice generally to accord preference to ships of British nationality; but correspondence specially superscribed by the sender for transmission by a foreign ship is forwarded by that ship.
§ Sir CHARLES BARRIEHow much is paid to foreign vessels for carrying out this work? Would it not be much better to encourage the building of the new Cunarder to take the place of these vessels, rather than to subsidise the foreigner?