MR. RENTOUL (Down, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that letters arriving by the English mail at Downpatrick at 10.32 a.m. are not delivered in the neighbouring villages of Ardglass and Killough till 4.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. respectively, and that letters for the English mail leaving Downpatrick at 3.0 p.m. must be posted in Killough and Ardglass at 7.0 and 8.0 a.m. respectively: and, seeing that arrangements could be made with the County Down Railway whereby the delivery of the letters referred to could be made at Killough and Ardglass at least four hours earlier, and the time of posting for the English mail at least six hours later than at present, whether he will consider the advisability of these improvements being carried out; whether he will consider if the remuneration of 5s. a week to the messenger delivering letters at Ardglass twice daily could be increased; and whether, in accordance with the requests made by the inhabitants of the district, he will take steps to have letter-boxes placed in High Street, Ardglass, and at Coney Island, midway between Ardglass and Killough.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe facts as regards the postal arrangements at Ardglass and Killough are substantially as stated in the first part of the question. The substitution of a day mail service by train for the present day mail service by car would, however, be objected to by many of the persons concerned. Moreover, the cost of the 613 existing service is so high that the Postmaster General would not feel justified in sanctioning any further expenditure on the post. The Postmaster General will cause further inquiry to be made as to the duties of the messenger at Ardglass, and will communicate with the hon. Member. The circumstances do not justify the establishment of letterboxes in High Street, Ardglass, or at Coney Island.