§ MR. SAMUEL YOUNGI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, having regard to the fact that in autumn last a guarantee was given for extending the telegraphic communication to Shercock, county Cavan, whether he can state the reason for the delay in having the work accomplished.
§ MR. HANBURYBy the time that those concerned definitely communicated their decision to give a guarantee the sum of money voted by Parliament for telegraph extensions in last financial year was exhausted, and the Postmaster General had no alternative but to explain that the work could not be put in hand until after the end of March in the current year. Unfortunately in that month the post office at Shercock became vacant, and one of the guarantors—the mother of the late sub-postmistress—had to be released from the guarantee. The case is, therefore, in abeyance pending the execution of a fresh guarantee.