§ MR. GILHOOLYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether a memorial from the priests and people of Eyeries, county Cork, has been forwarded to the Secretary, General Post Office, Dublin, showing the necessity that exists for a Sunday service to Eyeries; whether a resolution from the District Council, Castletown Be re, also has been sent; and whether, in view of the importance of Eyeries as a fishing station, he will see that this want is supplied.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINA memorial was received from the residents of Eyeries last year asking for a Sunday postal service, and the District Council of Castletown Bere forwarded a resolution supporting the request. From the inquiry which was made it was found that the cost of the service in the district already greatly exceeded the revenue from the correspondence, so that the expense of providing a Sunday post was not warranted. The Postmaster General regrets that in the circumstances he would not be justified in complying with the request of the inhabitants.
§ MR. GILHOOLYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this is a very important fishing station which is attended by a number of American buyers? The cost would only be small.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI understand that it is a very important fishing station, but the postal business connected with the fishery is very small and, if I remember rightly, does not pay half the present cost of the service.
§ MR. GILHOOLYBut what about the public convenience?