§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)asked the Postmaster General, Whether he is aware that the Post Office, Rathmines Road, Dublin, is also the local office of The Freeman''s Journal; whether it is a fact that cartoons of that newspaper, ridiculing the Government and designating the Chief Secretary for Ireland "the latest Cromwell," have been displayed side by side with Post Office notices; and, whether this is in accordance with the Post Office Regulations; and if not, what course does he propose to take in the matter?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)The Post Office Receiver in Rathmines Road, Dublin, is, I understand, agent for the sale of The Freeman's Journal; but I cannot ascertain that cartoons of that journal have at any time been exhibited side by side with Post Office notices. The Post Office business, I am assured, is kept quite separate and distinct from the business of the shop.
§ MR. JOHNSTONI may inform the right. hon. Gentleman that I have myself seen the cartoons side by side with Post Office notices.
§ MR. EDWARD HARRINGTON (Kerry, W.)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether there is anything more incongruous in it than the sporting of primroses by the Members of Her Majesty's Government on the Treasury Bench to-day?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether the tenant of a shop in which the business of a Post Office is conducted is not entitled, under law and under the Post Office Regulations, to conduct any other lawful business?
§ MR. RAIKESThe hon. Member must be aware that it is clearly competent to any person in that position to conduct any other lawful business. I merely referred to the fact that the business must be kept distinct from Post Office notices.