Major STANLEYasked the Postmaster-General whether, if the Government of Ireland Bill passes, the cost of the services for the conveyance of the American mails between London and Queenstown will continue to be borne by the British taxpayer as at present; will he still retain full control and be able, if he considers it advisable to do so, to dispatch the American mails direct without calling at Queens-town, and so avoid the delays and loss of time that now takes place and secure an earlier arrival of the mails in the United States?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe conditions of the service between Dublin and Queenstown and the incidence of the cost of the service would be matters for arrangement. The British Postmaster-General would be able to arrange for the dispatch of mails from Great Britain for America otherwise than through Ireland.1758W I am unable to agree with the hon. Member's suggestion that in present circumstances the discontinuance of the existing system, under which the final mails from the British Islands are embarked on board the contract packets of the Cunard and White Star lines at Queenstown, would be advantageous to the mail service between this country and North America.