§ Mr. WILKIEasked the Postmaster-General whether, before signing future contracts for the carriage of His Majesty's mails on British vessels on which are employed Lascar sailors, firemen, and trimmers, he will issue instructions to all persons tendering for such contracts, requiring them to comply with the Fair Wages Clause of the Resolution of the House of Commons?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe Fair Wages Resolution has never been considered applicable to contracts with steamship companies for the conveyance of mails, nor do I think it can properly be applied to them. Steamship companies, like railway companies, are mainly engaged in large commercial operations, and the conveyance of mails is no more than an incidental part of the general business of transport on which their labour force is employed.