§ CAPTAIN M'CALMONT (Antrim, E.)I bog to ask the Postmaster General whether his attention has been called by Memorial or otherwise to the constant irregularity in the mail service from Great Britain to Ireland by Stranraer and Larne, especially during the last three months of 1893; and whether he is aware that this constant irregularity is almost entirely caused by the late arrival of the postal train at Carlisle and the delay consequent thereon; and whether he can insist on the postal train being run with a greater regard to punctuality?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. A. MORLEY,) Nottingham, E.Yes, Sir; my attention has been repeatedly drawn to this subject. The irregularity is no doubt due mainly to the late arrival of the mail train at Carlisle. This train, which is run at a high rate of speed, has a number of important connections to maintain with other trains between Euston and Carlisle, and a large and varying amount of station work to do at the stopping places. For several months an extra, stop at Warrington, involving a delay of about six minutes daily, was necessary, in consequence of the main line having at that point been diverted, and no suitable site for the mail-bag apparatus for a long time presenting itself. That difficulty has, however, been surmounted, and the train ceased to stop at Warrington on the 1006 19th December. The London and North Western Railway Company have shown the fullest desire to do all that is possible, in concert with the Department, to secure the punctual working of this important mail train, and the possibility of relieving the train to some extent is at the present time under inquiry.
§ SIR J. FERGUSSON (Manchester, N.E.)was understood to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the frequent occurrence of the late arrival of the train in Scotland did not very often mean the failure of the local delivery. How often had the train been late in the last three months, and did the corresponding train on the Glasgow and South Western wait a reasonable time for the Irish mail?
§ MR. A. MORLEYDuring the month of December, leaving out of consideration the five days preceding Christmas, and the two days preceding New Year's Day, when it is absolutely necessary to allow extra time for the journey, the down special mail train reached Carlisle more than 15 minutes late on eight occasions. There have been no failures of connection with the mail trains to Stranraer or to Ayr, but whether the services from Ayr to the country districts beyond have been in all cases maintained without any break, the records at headquarters do not enable me to state. If the right hon. Gentleman will let me know of any failures which have come to his knowledge, and which are not accounted for by the Christmas and New Year's pressure, I will have inquiry made into the matter.