§ MR. KILBRIDEI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, whether his attention has been directed to the great inconvenience to tourists and others staying at the hotels in Waterville, county Kerry, owing to the fact that there is no telegraph office attached to the Post Office at Waterville; whether they are obliged to make use of the Cable Company's Offices, situate more than half a mile from the hotels, causing loss of revenue to the Post Office and inconvenience to the visitors; and whether, in consideration of the increasing importance of Waterville as a favourite fishing place and health resort, he will provide telegraph facilities in connection with the present Post Office?
§ MR. HANBURYNo representations appear to have been made to the Postmaster-General in regard to the alleged inconvenience of the existing telegraph arrangements at Waterville. An offer to extend the telegraphs to the Post Office under guarantee which was made some years ago did not meet with acceptance, and but for the arrangement under which the Commercial Cable Company undertook to accept telegrams at their Cable Station, on behalf of the Postmaster-General, the locality would have been without telegraphic facilities. The extension to the Post Office would involve considerable expense, but the Postmaster-General will be happy to look into the matter, and will communicate with the honourable Member.
§ MR. KILBRIDEIs the right honourable Gentleman aware that the local postmaster is willing to give the guarantee?
§ MR. HANBURYThe honourable Member must be well aware that that is not the sort of guarantee that we require.