§ MR. DE COBAIN (Belfast, E.)asked the Postmaster General, Whether he 1653 has seen a communication in The Standard of Saturday, complaining of the serious irregularity in the delivery of Irish mails, which, arriving at Euston at 6 a.m., were not delivered till 12.30 p.m., or six and a quarter hours after arrival; whether a sum of two guineas per annum was demanded for the privilege of giving the letters to messengers who might be sent to the District Office for them; and, whether, if there be foundation for these charges, he will take immediate steps to have the difficulties removed which impede the delivery of Irish letters?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)The letter to which the hon. Member calls my attention referred, I understand, to the Postal District of Bow. I find that a revision of the postal arrangements there is now under consideration, and it is proposed to establish a new delivery of letters, commencing at about 10 a.m. The Irish letters for the District, which do not reach London in time for the first delivery, would fall into this delivery, and would thus be accelerated by about two hours. The difficulty in this case has been that the total number of letters has not hitherto been sufficient to warrant the expense of making an additional delivery, and they are barely sufficient at the present time. The charge mentioned of two guineas a-year was for a private box at the District Office, and is the usual charge.