§ MR. J. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, with the view of providing an earlier morning delivery at Ballyshannon and Bundoran than 8.30 a.m. and 9 a.m. respectively, and a later dispatch than 4 p.m. and 4.25 p.m. from Bundoran and Ballyshannon respectively, the Post Office Department has yet approached the Great Northern Railway Company of Ireland, and with what result; whether the inhabitants of Bundoran, Ballyshannon, and the district lying between Bundoran and Bundoran Junction have repeatedly complained of the inadequate mail service afforded 625 them; and what improved service in the direction indicated in the foregoing paragraph the Department now proposes for the district mentioned?
§ MR. HANBURYThe Great Northern Railway Company has been approached with the object of substituting a train service for the present mail car service from Bundoran Junction to Ballyshannon and Bundoran, 35 miles distant from the Junction. The inhabitants have from time to time complained of the present service, but no improvement, in the car service is possible under the existing railway time tables; and it is regretted that the very large sum demanded by the railway company for an early morning train from Bundoran Junction to Bundoran precludes the hope of making the desired improvement by means of the train.
§ MR. MACNEILLis there no means by representation to the Board of Works or otherwise of bringing the railway company to a sense of reason?
§ MR. HANBURYNo; I am afraid there is no method of dealing with the railway company under these circumstances.
§ MR. RICHARD M. DANE (Fermanagh, N.)Could the right hon. Gentleman say what offer was made by the Postal authorities to the Great Northern Railway Company?
§ MR. HANBURYNo, Sir: it would be contrary to the usual practice to state so.
§ MR. MACNEILLWould the right hon. Gentleman suggest a Royal Commission?