HC Deb 21 July 1896 vol 43 cc247-50
MR. W. O'MALLEY (Galway, Connemara)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the Post Office authorities will extend telegraphic communication from Recess, Connemara, to Carna, Connemara, in view of the fact that a steamer calls there once a week from Galway, and that serious inconvenience frequently arises when through any cause the steamer fails to come on the appointed day; and also, in view of the fact that telegraphic communication to that district is most important and essential for the proper development of its fishing industry?

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) Preston

The Postmaster General will be happy to make further inquiry on the subject of the extension of the telegraph system to Carna, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

MR. O'MALLEY

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the Post Office authorities will re-consider the question of establishing a delivery of letters to Carna, Connemara, county Galway, on Sundays?

MR. HANBURY

As was explained to the hon. Member a few months ago, the post to Carna on week days involves an expenditure in excess of the revenue available, and further expenditure for a Sunday service would not therefore be warranted. The circumstances being unaltered, the Postmaster General regrets that he is unable to meet the wishes of the hon. Member.

MR. J. C. ENGLEDOW (Kildare, N.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, will he explain why parcels sent by post from Ireland, and arriving by the mail train due at Euston at 6.15 a.m., are not delivered in the northwestern postal district of London before 5 p.m.; and if he will take steps to expedite their delivery?

MR. HANBURY

To avoid delay to the letter mails, parcels from Ireland are not (except on Sunday nights) sent by the night mail viâ Kingstown due at Euston at 6.15 a.m., as the hon. Member appears to assume. The route for parcels is viâ, North Wall, and the train from Holyhead which brings the parcels from the North Wall boat is due at Euston at 6.50 a.m. The delivery of Irish parcels by this mail commences in the northwestern town district about 11 a.m., and is completed about mid-day. Even in the remotest parts of the north-western district, such as Hendon and Mill Hill, the delivery should take place before 3 p.m.

MR. JASPER TULLY (Leitrim, S.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that grave public inconvenience has been caused by the action of the postal authorities in discontinuing the night mail from Dromod to Mohill, and thus delaying letters for days from residents in Sligo and Roscommon to residents in South Leitrim; and, whether he will recommend that the night mail he resumed in the same way as existed for the last 20 years?

MR. HANBURY

The night mail from Dromod to Mohill has not been discontinued, but under a recent alteration it appears that letters from several neighbouring places which formerly fell into the morning delivery at Mohill are not now delivered until mid-day. Directions have been given which will have the effect of restoring the communication which has been temporarily disturbed.

MR. P. FFRENCH (Wexford, S.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that night mails between Dublin and Wexford are carried by an ordinary goods train which leaves Dublin at 8 o'clock in the evening, and very frequently does not arrive in Wexford until 7 or 8 o'clock next morning, delaying the rural postmen from an hour to two hours; and, whether the Dublin, Wicklow, and Wexford Railway Company are receiving any subsidy for carrying the night mails beyond the ordinary fare for parcels; and, if not, whether he will reconsider the desirability of making arrangements with the Railway Company for carrying the night mails, and provide a regular mail service in future?

MR. HANBURY

The night mail from Dublin to Wexford is carried by a goods train which leaves Dublin at 8 p.m., and is due at Wexford at 5 a.m. On one occasion only since the 1st June has the arrival at Wexford been so late as 7 a.m., but there has been much irregularity in the working of the train and the rural postmen have consequently been late in starting upon their rounds. The Dublin, Wicklow, and Wexford Railway Company receive under their contract with the post office an annual payment of substantial amount which covers all the services they perform. No particular portion of this payment is earmarked to the night mail, but there is no reason for considering the company to be insufficiently remunerated. The Department is in correspondence with the company with a view to insuring a more punctual observance of the contract obligations.