§ Mr. LAMONTasked the Postmaster-General whether the last contract for the carriage of His Majesty's mails between Ardrossan and Arran had expired previously to the making of the present contract; and, if not, why the contract, which was for the water journey only, was cancelled in favour of one embracing the land and water journey, and for a period of 10 years?
§ Mr. SYDNEY BUXTONI found it advantageous to negotiate a new mail steamer contract with the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company at the time when a new contract for the conveyance of mails by railway was being arranged. The old contract for the Ardrossan and Arran Mail Steamer Service had not expied when the new steamer contract was arranged. The railway and steamer services come under separate contracts, but both are for a minimum period of ten years from 1st July, 1907.