HC Deb 08 February 1897 vol 45 cc1544-5
MR. JAMES ROCHE (Kerry, E.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if, having regard to the resolutions passed by various public bodies in Killarney and Tralee, copies of which have reached him, calling the attention of the Postmaster General to the very irregular manner in which the mails have been delivered in those towns for the last few years, he will communicate with the Great South Western Railway Company and endeavour to get the mails forwarded from Mallow Junction to Killarney and Tralee in a more expeditious manner than at present?

MR. HANBURY

The resolutions referred to will receive consideration. There are, however, grave objections to increasing the number of stops of the Dublin and Cork day mail trains, which would of course unfavourably affect the arrival and departure of the mail at Cork. Even if the Dublin and Cork trains stop at Mallow, it is not clear that the Company would desire to put on trains to and from Tralee in connection therewith for their ordinary traffic, and the Post Office would not be justified in paying for special trains for the service.

CAPTAIN DONELAN

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether any arrangements have yet been made with the Irish Railway Companies, so as to enable him to give the new mail time table to Cork and Belfast respectively?

MR. HANBURY

The revision of] the hours of the day mail trains from Dublin to Cork, Belfast, etc., was necessarily postponed till the time table between London and Dublin was definitely settled. It is now under consideration, but it has not been possible in the short time which has elapsed to make any definite arrangement.

CAPTAIN DONELAN

May I ask whether, in making these arrangements, will due, consideration be paid to the resolution recently forwarded to the Postmaster General by the. Cork Chamber of Commerce and Whipping, directing attention to the needless delays that now occur on the loop line in Dublin and in backing in and out of Kingsbridge station?

MR. HANBUBY

I have not seen it, but I have no doubt due attention will be given to it.

MR. KNOX

May I ask whether, in preparing this time table, the right hon. Gentleman will take the opportunity of laying it before the representatives of the Cork, Derry, and Belfast Chambers of Commerce.

MR. HANBURY

I do not quite know why these towns should be singled out in this Question, which affects the whole of Ireland.