(by Private Notice) asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a picket of strikers at Tilbury Docks on Friday morning prevented the embarkation of mails for Bombay, whether these mails have since been sent off, and, if not, what he proposes to do in the matter?

Yes, Sir; I am aware that the embarkation of these mails, which consisted of parcels, not letters, at Tilbury was prevented. I am making arrangements for their conveyance by the overland route to Marseilles, and, if there are no unforeseen delays in their transit across France, they should reach Marseilles in time to be embarked on the same ship.

Do we understand that these mails have not yet been sent from this country?

Will the right hon. Gentleman also say whether or not it is a fact, as stated in the Press, that police protection was offered and refused, after communication with headquarters?

It is as well to explain exactly what happened. There have been no attempts on the part of officials of the Dockers' Union to interfere with the handling of mails. We have had an assurance from them that they are prepared to co-operate, and they have been co-operating in this business. As a matter of fact, the inward and outward mails during the strike have exceeded 50,000 bags. We had some delay in connection with 5,000 bags at Plymouth and we have had some trouble with these thousand bags at Tilbury. Unfortunately, I was unable on Friday to get in contact with the officials of the union. [Laughter.] There is nothing to laugh at. The ship was leaving at one o'clock, and when I attempted to get into touch with the officials to ask them to give the instructions which they had undertaken to give, unfortunately they were in conference. [HON. MEMBERS: "Fortunately!"] Fortunately in one sense. Unfortunately they were not getting quite the smooth sailing in conference that some of us would have liked. They were up against very serious difficulties and were unable to deal with this matter of mails, and the ship sailed before we could get them to give an order. I think, having regard to the magnitude of this business, it does appear that we have not had unreasonable interference, considering the abnormal conditions that have arisen.

Are we to understand that the mails have not yet left this country?

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the Supplementary Question which I addressed to him, whether it is the case that the police offered to give protection in order to put the mails on board, and that the postal authorities, after communicating with headquarters, refused to have that protection?

If the hon. Member had put that Question down on the Paper I should have been prepared to reply.

I gave the Prime Minister and yourself, Mr. Speaker, private notice that I wished to put that Question to-day. I sent it specially by post to the Prime Minister and yourself.

Are we to understand that these mails have not yet left this country?

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer this simple question? Was police protection for postal officials offered in connection with the delivery of these mails on board, and did the postal authorities refuse that protection after they had communicated with headquarters?

I am afraid I cannot answer that question at the moment.

The Minister can only answer one question at a time. There is an answer to be given to the hon. Member's below the Gangway as to whether the mails have already left or not.

I do not exactly know where the mails are at present. [Laughter.] Hon. Members laugh. I only know that arrangements are being made to get them across to France, and arrangements are being made with the French postal authorities for facilities to get them to Marseilles.

Major COLFAX:

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer, I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House on a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the failure of the Government to make effective arrangements for the regular carrying on of mail services.

I will deal with that when I have disposed of the rest of the questions.

Is it not a fact that considerable additional expense will be entailed in sending these mails overland to Marseilles?

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to ensure that the mail services are not interfered with in future?

At the end of Questions—

In view of what has been said to-day by the Postmaster-General, I cannot accept the Motion for the Adjournment as a matter of urgency. It is a subject of general criticism of the action of the Government during a dispute which we have just been told has been settled. Therefore, any criticism of the action of the Government must take place in the ordinary course, and not on a Motion of this kind.

May I remind you, Sir, that the Postmaster-General said that he was unaware where the mails were, or whether they had reached their proper destination? Is it not, therefore, correct to say that it is a matter of urgent public importance to know exactly where these mails are, and whether they have reached their proper quarters?

I think not.

In view of the fact that many of these bags are official mails, as I understand, going out to India, and that the Postmaster-General can give us no assurance that the mails will reach the steamer—he has said so in the course of his reply—is it not a matter of urgent public importance to discuss how the business of the King's Empire is going to be carried out if the Postmaster-General can give no guarantee of the mails reaching the steamer?

On that same point of Order. The Postmaster-General has intimated to the House that the necessary steps are being taken to ensure that these mails will reach their destination. [HON. MEMBERS: "No!"] Secondly, having regard to the fact that a recommendation has been made to settle the unfortunate dispute—which is much more important—is it not better to avoid a discussion that may cause more difficulty?

I understood from the Postmaster-General that he has been endeavouring to make arrangements that these mails should reach Marseilles in time to catch the steamer, but he has, in fact, given no assurance that they will catch the steamer. I submit that it is a matter of urgency to secure from the Government an undertaking that they will ensure that the mails catch that steamer, if necessary, by giving instructions for the steamer to be detained until the mails reach Marseilles.

Hon. Members seem to desire to take my duties away from me. Of course, all these considerations were present to my mind, and I have given my ruling.