§ MR. MAURICE HEALY(for Dr. KENNY) (Cork, S.)asked the Postmaster General, Whether the mail car between Skibbereen and Baltimore has been discontinued, and a rural messenger substituted, who has to walk 19 miles a day, taking letters and parcels to and from Old Court Creagh, Loughine, Baltimore, Sherkin Island, and Cape Clear Island; whether he is aware that a piscatorial school is to be opened on the 18th August next at Baltimore, the existence of which is likely to add considerably to the postal work; what the difference in cost as between the mail car and a rural messenger is; and, whether, under the circumstances, he will consider the advisability of continuing the mail car at any rate till the end of the year?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)The 503 Skibbereen and Baltimore Mail Car, which runs during the fishing season, has not yet been discontinued. The postman's walk is 16½ miles in length, performed on week days only. There is no foot-post on Sundays. He carries letters and parcels for the places named. A school in connection with the fishery is, I understand, about to be opened at Baltimore; but I cannot say to what extent it will affect the correspondence for that place. The difference in cost between a service by mail car throughout the year and a service by rural messenger would be the entire cost of the mail car—say, £60 or £70 a-year; so it would be necessary to retain the rural messenger to perform the road delivery. As I promised the hon. Member for West Cork (Mr. Gilhooly), who put a Question to me on the subject in May last, I will cause further accounts of letters to be taken at the end of the fishing season, with a view to reconsidering this matter.
§ MR. MAURICE HEALYThe fishing season will end on the 16th of July; and will the right hon. Gentleman have the car continued until hs has ascertained the result of the inquiries he proposes to institute?
§ MR. RAIKESThat is my intention, Sir.