§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, whether, in view of the fact that the Dublin Post Office is kept open on Sunday for the despatch of letters by the evening mail to England, he will make arrangements whereby letters can be received, stamped, and despatched from the Belfast Post Office up to midday on Sundays, and despatched by the 2 o'clock train to Dublin.
§ MR. HANBURYThis question was considered about two years ago, and an arrangement was made, which is still in force, whereby letters for England bearing an extra postage of ½d. can be posted in a box at Belfast Railway Station to within a few minutes of the departure of the 2 p.m. train to Dublin. It was understood that this would meet the wishes of those specially interested in the matter, and it involves a minimum of additional Sunday labour. The ordinary collections for the day mails are suspended on Sunday both in Ireland and England, and the Postmaster General is not prepared to open the Belfast office for business at midday on Sunday and bring the staff on duty in order to give further facilities for the despatch of letters by the 2 p.m. train to Dublin.