§ MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork City)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the time table for the new Irish Mail Service has yet been definitely decided on; and, if so, whether he can state what it is?
§ MR. HANBURYAs the hon. Member is aware, I undertook, on behalf of the Postmaster General, at the close of last Session, that the time table for the new Irish Mail Service between London and Dublin should not be finally settled until the present Session. Subject to this understanding, the whole subject has been re-examined during the Recess, with the object of meeting, as far as possible, the wishes of the Irish representatives. The down night mail will leave Euston at 8.45 p.m., in lieu of 8.20 p.m., and will reach Dublin at 5.49 a.m. (Irish time), instead of 6.29 a m.—that is, 40 minutes earlier than at present; while the up night mail train will leave Dublin at 8 p.m. (Irish time), instead of 7.10 p.m.—that is, 50 minutes later than at present, and will reach Euston at 6.10 a.m., in lieu of 6.15 a.m. The present interval in Dublin between the arrival of the mail in the morning and the departure of the return mail in the evening will thus be lengthened by an hour and a-half. In regard to the day mail, the down mail will leave Euston, as at present, at 7.15 a.m., and reach Dublin at 4.52 p.m. (Irish time), instead of 5.22 p.m.—that is, half-an-hour earlier; and the up mail will leave Dublin at 7.10 a.m. (Irish time), instead of 6.40 a.m.—that is, half-an-hour later, and reach Euston, as at present, at 5.45 p.m.
§ MR. MAURICE HEALYasked the right hon. Gentleman whether arrangements had yet been made with the Irish railway companies so as to give the time table to Cork and Belfast?
§ MR. HANBURYsaid the arrangements with the companies on the Irish side had not yet been arrived at.
§ MR. JOHN DILLON (Mayo, E.)asked whether it was not possible to give some more time in regard to the morning mail leaving London for Dublin; and whether this was not the only train in regard to which no additional time was given?
§ MR. HANBURYreplied that he was very anxious himself about the matter, 394 and he had pressed the companies as far possible, but this was the utmost concession they would make.
MR. T. M. HEALYasked whether the right hon. Gentleman would press on the London and North Western Railway Company the advisability of starting their morning mail a little later?
§ MR. HANBURYYes.
§ MR. W. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick), asked the right hon. Gentleman whether an arrangement could not be made by which a conference could be held between the Mails Committee and the Postmaster General before the matter was finally settled?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The Question on the Paper has been fully answered. ["Hear, hear."]
§ MR. FIELDI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the Postmaster General has been able to arrange with the London and North Western Railway Company for an acceleration on the mail trains from Euston to Holyhead; and whether he will, in any new contract, endeavour to arrange that third class shall be put on from Holyhead to Chester and from Chester to Holyhead?
§ MR. HANBURYAs I thought the hon. Member was aware, an arrangement was made some time ago with the London and North Western Railway Company, for accelerating, on and after the 1st April next, the mail trains which convey the Irish night mails between London and Holyhead. I am glad to be able to add that during the last few days the Railway Company has consented to further accelerate the down night mail by five minutes. The circumstances would not justify the Department incurring any expense in accelerating the day mail trains. As stated in reply to a question of the hon. Member in July last, communications have taken place between the Company and the Post Office on the subject of third class traffic, but the Company could not see their way to provide for third class passengers in the Irish mail trains.
§ MR. PATRICK POWER (Waterford, E.)Has the right hon. Gentleman made no representation to the London and North Western Railway Company as to the advisability of attaching third class carriages to the mail trains?
§ MR. HANBURYI gathered that that was the question of the hon. Member for Dublin, to which I have already replied. Communications have passed with a view to bring that about.
§ MR. FIELDArising out of the reply to a former question, might I ask if the right hon. Gentleman will arrange that we shall have an opportunity of considering the time table before it is finally adopted.
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid that did not arise out of this Question.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENasked the right hon. Gentleman whether he was aware that the London and North Western Railway Company, while they declined to attach third class carriages to the mails at Holyhead, were constantly in the habit of putting them on at Chester, where they were in competition with other companies; and whether, in the negotiations, he would see that if the London and North Western Company would not put third class carriages on at Holyhead, they should not be allowed to put them on at Chester and so overload the mails.
§ MR. HANBURYI do not know whether the Post Office has any power to impose that condition, but I will inquire into it.
§ [No answer was given.]