§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether any arrangement could be made for the conveyance of the night mails from Clones to Belturbet by train, and thence by the Cavan and Leitrim Light Railway train, to Baunboy Road and Bally-connell; whether the Department has yet been in communication with the newly appointed secretary of the Great Northern Railway Company, Mr. Plews, on the subject of a night mail train from Belturbet to Clones, and Cavan to Clones; and whether the Postmaster General would be willing to have the contract price fixed by arbitration in case an agreement cannot otherwise be come to?
§ MR. HANBURYThe question of arranging for the train services suggested by the hon. Member was fully considered some time since, but it was found that there were no trains running at hours suitable for the night mail, and that the cost of establishing such trains would be altogether beyond what the circumstances would warrant. The service is already carried on at a serious loss to the revenue. The Department has not been into communication with Mr. Plews, the newly appointed secretary to the Great Northern Railway Company on the subject. The case is not one in which the Postmaster General would be willing to have the price of the trains fixed by arbitration, because, as already stated, the existing service is attended with a serious loss, and there is, therefore, no revenue to meet a charge which might be even moderate for trains specially established, but which would certainly be many times in excess of the cost of the present car services.