§ MR. P. O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)asked the Postmaster General, Under what circumstances it would be necessary, in creating the Post Office in Smith-borough, County Monaghan, a Telegraph Office, to run a wire from Clones to Smithborough; whether, in view of the fact that the wire which connects Belfast with Clones and Enniskillen passes within about 25 perches of the Smithborough Post Office, and that the carrying capacity of this wire is five times its present daily average, he will consider the advisability of taking Smith-borough into circuit upon this wire; whether by such an arrangement the £30, which was proposed as a guarantee for a year to cover the cost of extension and any possible loss to the Post Office Revenue arising from working Smith-borough Post Office as a Telegraph Office for that period, will not be more than sufficient to cover the cost of construction in bringing Smithborough into circuit on the Belfast, Clones, and Enniskillen wire, the cost of working for one year, and still leave a moderate balance to the credit of the Post Office, exclusive of the profits arising from the messages originating at and delivered from Smithborough; and, when will he be able to state the result of his inquiries?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)In reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that to place the Smithborough Office upon the Belfast, Clones, and Enniskillen wire would cause delay in the transmission of the messages passing over that circuit, and consequent complaint from the public. Even if the suggestion were desirable, but little saving, if any, would be effected in the amount of the guarantee required, as it would be necessary to increase the allowance to the Sub-postmaster, in order that he might be in a position to obtain the services of an assistant, competent to work the more difficult instrument which would be placed upon the circuit. I hope to be able to state the result of the further inquiries I promised, one day next week.