The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-03-24 00:00:00

THE IRISH MAIL SERVICE.

In the House of Conn-nom, on Monday evening,
Mr. Gibson asked the Postmaster General whether
it was contemplated by the Postal Department that
steamers equal to those at present on the Irish mail
service, should be employed under proposed con-
tract by the London and North-Western Rail-
way Company ; what was the gain of time
contemplated, and was it on the land or sea
voyage; what was the net difference between the
estimates of the Irish and English companies for the
carriage of the Irish mails between li".ol7hped and
Kingstown; was any opportunity afforded to the
London and North-Western Railway Company to
change or modify their proposal before it was
accepted; and was any similar opportunity afforded
to the Irish company befora its estimate was rejected.
Mr. Fawcett said the draft contract stipulated for a
sufficient number of steamers fit in every respect for
the service, They would be carefully inspected to
insure that condition being carried out. There would
be an acceleration of half an hour each way under the
North-Western Company's contract. The Dublin
Company's tender for the sea service was £60,000; the
North-Western tendered at £66,000 for the sea service,
and £76,000 for the whole service on sea and land.
When asked to tender for an accelerated land service
alone, the North-Western replied that for that they
would want £13,000 more.
Mr. Gribson asked whether ;a opportunity was given
to the Dublin company to make a clec6rid tender,

Mr, Fawcett said no formal invitation was given,
but it was perfectly open to them.

In reply to Lord Q. Hamilton, Mr. Dawson, and
others,

Mr. Fawcett said provision was made to recover
penalties for delay. Every care was taken in the
negociations to prevent one company knowing the
terms of the other's tendcr. The decision of the matter
rested not in him, but with the Treasury. The day
was to point out to the Treasury the advantages and
disadvantages of the two tenders, At the same time,

he accepted the full responsibility for the advice which
he gave. _ _ _

Mr. C. Lewis gave notice that he would ask
whether the Government really intended to carry out
this obnoxious contract. (Oh, and hear hear).

Mr. Gibson asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether the Treasury Minute of October 19, 1855,
recognised that the question of the communication
between England and Ireland was not a mere depart-
mental one, to be settled on purely economical
grounds, but was a matter of national importance,
vitally concerning the interests of the whole United
Kingdom; whether that minute would be included in
the papers to be presented to Parliament; why the
option of having the Irish mails carrica to the North
Wall was introduced into proposed contract; and
whether vessels of the size of the present mail packets
could be run into the private harbour of the London
and North-Western Railway Company at Holyhead.
Mr. Childers said her Majesty's Government fully
recognised the social and political advantages of im-
proved communication between England and Ireland.
Special notice was taken in the Treasury minute of
the wants of the Irish members of Parliament, but the
public service was regarded as standing before the
convenience of passengers. Mr. Fawcett added that
it was thought desirable to secure the possibility of the
North Wall route.