§ Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Postmaster-General what were the reasons given by the mail steamer company to justify their reducing the mail services to the islands of Tiree and Coll, and to the districts of Ardnamurchan and Ardrishaig and the Kyles of Bute, and elsewhere in Argyll, by, in some cases, over 66 per cent.; and has any deduction from the usual payments to them in respect of the restriction of services been made by him?
§ Viscount WOLMERThe supply of coal which the contractors had laid in became exhausted early last month, and the only coal which they could then obtain was of inferior quality and the price was very high. In these circumstances it was considered reasonable to acquiesce in a temporary restriction of the services without a reduction of the normal payment.