§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he has made inquiries into the complaints of late delivery of and early reply to mid-day letters in Cavan and Belturbet, and, if so, with what result; is he aware that the Great Northern Railway Company are mainly responsible for the delay by refusing small concessions unless they receive large subsidies; and, in view of the fact that the Midland Great Western Railway Company's trains run into Cavan also, could some arrangement be made with them in case the Northern Company refuse to give the facilities required?
§ MR. HANBURYInquiry has been made in accordance with the promise made to the hon. Member whether any improvement is practicable in the hours of delivery and dispatch of the mid-day mail at Cavan and Belturbet, but the present arrangement of trains does not admit of better hours being afforded. As regards the second question of the hon. Member, the Postmaster General understands that the Great Northern Railway Company has been approached 506 by the public with a view to the improvement of the train from Dundalk which carries the day mail, but the Company have replied that such improvement was a matter for the Post Office to effect. So far, however, as the Post Office is concerned, there would not be any justification whatever for the establishment of a special train for the postal service. Although trains of the Midland Great Western Company run into Cavan, the hours are not so suitable for the day mail as the hours of the trains on the Great Northern Railway, and it was ascertained not long since that no alterations that would be of advantage to the Postal Service were in contemplation by the Company.
§ MR. J. P. FARRELLwas understood to ask whether that depended upon the Railway Company?
§ MR. HANBURYsaid it depended entirely on the Railway Company, and the only way would be by means of one special train for the mails, which would not be justifiable under the circumstances.