§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)I bog to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if it is a fact that correspondence addressed to Coachford, county Cork, forwarded from London by 8.30 p.m. mail, and also from Dublin by next morning mail, arriving at Cork at 11.15 a.m., remains in the Cork Post Office until 4 a.m. the following morning, and is then dispatched to Coachford by mail car; whether this delay of 17 hours is unavoidable, seeing that it entails a delay between London and Coachford of five days for receipt and reply; and whether he is aware that a train leaves Cork for Coachford and intermediate stations daily at 2.40, and why advantage is not taken of this opportunity of accelerating the Coachford district postal service?
§ MR. HANBURYIt is the fact that correspondence for Coachford forwarded from London by 8.30 p.m. mail, and from Dublin by next morning's mail, though arriving at Cork at 11.15 a.m. remains in the Cork Post Office until about 4 a.m. the following morning, when it is dispatched by car to Coachford. The delay of 17 hours at Cork arises from there being but one dispatch a day from Cork to Coachford. It is not, however, five days, but, under ordinary circumstances, three that are occupied in the course of post from London to Coachford and back, as replies to letters dispatched, say, on Monday evening can be received in London on Thursday evening. A train leaves Cork for Coachford at 2.40 p.m., but it is probable that the amount of correspondence which would be included in an afternoon post to Coachford has not hitherto been sufficient to warrant the expenditure involved in forwarding it by this train and granting a second delivery. Inquiry on this point shall, however, be made, and the hon. Member informed of the result.