§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he is aware that on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the 25th, 26th, and 27th July last, also on Wednesday the 31st July, and Thursday, 1st August, the mails from Dublin due in Rathkeale at 11 a.m. did not arrive till 7.10 p.m.; 450 can he state the cause of the delay; and, seeing the inconvenience to the public in the county of Limerick caused by letters and the Dublin daily newspapers not arriving by the morning train, will he ascertain whether there was neglect of duty on the part of the Great Southern and Western Railway Company on these occasions in this matter.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINIt is true that on the dates referred to by the hon. Member failures of connection occurred at Limerick between the day mail train from Limerick Junction and the mail train for Rathkeale, etc., and that the mails which should have gone forward by the latter train had to be kept back for the next available train. The primary cause of the delay was the late arrival at Holyhead of the Irish night mail train from London, and it appears that on the dates in question the passengers for Ireland were so numerous as to render it necessary for two trains instead of one to be run for their conveyance. When an additional train is run some delay seems to be unavoidable, but the railway company have been urged to take all possible measures for securing the early arrival of the mail train at Holyhead.
§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is a matter of daily occurrence in the city of Limerick for the mails to be two hours late? Will the department take care that the railway company fulfils its contract?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI have no knowledge as to that.