§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether in appointments to the office of postmaster in Wales, a knowledge of the Welsh language is essential; and whether seeing that correspondents in the west of Ireland have had letters addressed in Irish returned to them as insufficiently addressed or not known; and whether he will take steps to prevent a recurrence of this by appointing for the present one or two Irish scholars to the office in Dublin, and by securing for future appointments in the Irish-speaking districts in Ireland postmasters with a knowledge of the language.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINIn appointing postmasters at places where the Welsh language is in general use preference is given to candidates who have a knowledge of the language. In the Postmaster General's opinion, no sufficient reason exists for requiring a knowledge of the Irish language from postmasters or other servants of the Department in Ireland.
§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELLWill the hon. Gentleman undertake to do what is asked in the last paragraph of the question?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI cannot make any promise. If the hon. Member has any special reasons to advance and will send them to me, I will forward them to the Postmaster General.