§ MR. M'CARTAN (Down, S.)asked the Postmaster General, Whether his attention has been called to the large and influential meeting of magistrates and representative men from different parts of the County of Down, held in Downpatrick on Saturday the 16th July, for the purpose of impressing on the Government the necessity for increased mail accommodation between Belfast and Newtownards, Downpatrick and other towns, in the county; and, whether he has yet made final arrangements for providing the additional service required?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)My attention has previously been called to the meeting held at Downpatrick on the 16th July, in reference to the mail service between Belfast and Newtownards, Downpatrick, ? and I can assure the hon. Member that I am quite as anxious as the meeting was to arrive at a satisfactory solution of the question. As regards the second part of the question of the hon. Member, I can only say I have not yet received a final answer from the Treasury upon the subject referred to; but that no time shall be lost in informing the persons interested of the decision when arrived at.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)May I ask can the right hon. Gentleman guarantee, considering all the time that has been spent over the matter, that the decision will be obtained before the Appropriation Bill comes on?
§ MR. RAIKESYes; I hope to announce it long before then.